Burney King

Charles L. 'Burney' King, Sr. died Sunday, May 31, 2009 after a battle with lung cancer.\ Burney was born March 16, 1938 in Tate County, MS. He attended Thyatira High School and married Virginia Wilhelm, also from Tate County. Burney and Virginia, with their young family lived and worked in Mississippi, California, and then back in Mississippi. The children grew to adulthood in West Jackson, where the family attended Midway Baptist Church.\ Burney was an automobile salesman most of his professional life. Later in life, after moving to the 'country', he became a county school bus driver, had a newspaper route, and most importantly for his friends and neighbors, starting planting larger gardens each year. He became well-known as having the earliest home-grown tomatoes of anybody around. Burney was very generous with all his garden produce--even his popular tomato relish, which he cooked and canned all by himself. His oldest grandchild especially liked to eat his speckled butterbeans. \ Burney was an active member and supporter of Bethesda Baptist Church for many years. He loved to hunt and fish and watch ball games as hobbies. He was a good cook and provided his special dishes for family gatherings over the years.\ He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Virginia, his daughter Charlotte Faye, and two brothers. He is survived by his sons C. L.(Chuck) King, Jr., Burney Clay King (Hannah), Cameron King, and his special loves--grandchildren Ashton Elizabeth King, Chance King, and Hannah Clay King. Also surviving are five sisters, numerous nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends.\ Services by Chancellor Home in Byram include visitation Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. and funeral services Wednesday at Bethesda Baptist Church on Midway Road. Visitation at the church will be from 10 to 11 a.m. with service at 11 a.m. Memorials may be made to Hospice Ministries at Ridgeland, MS.\ \ \