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FRANKLIN – Evie Mae Duck “Jack” Burgess, 99 years young, passed away on Dec. 21, 2020, in her home, where she had lived for the past 80 years. She had been in declining health for some time. Born in the county of Isle of Wight, town of Walters on July 27, 1921, she was the oldest daughter of the late Lafayette “Fate” and Evie Mae Bland Bradshaw Duck.

She was predeceased by her husband, Billy Battle Burgess; her brothers, Horace and Leo Bradshaw and their wives; her younger sisters, Lorraine “Nippy” Wilson and Hazel Carr and their husbands; her oldest daughter, Shirley Anne Burgess Rainey Saunders.

Left to cherish her life are her daughters, Ira Witt and her husband, Bill; Billie Earnest and her husband, Frank; and Shaaron Pickett and her husband, Clay; grandchildren, Michael Weaver of Manteo, North Carolina; William Bristow of Chesapeake; James Bristow and his wife, Bente of Knoxville, Tennessee; Jeffrey Bristow and his wife, Melissa of Chesapeake; and Trevor Benson of Arlington; and great-grandchildren, Dakota, Jackson and Meadow Bristow, children of Jeff and Melissa. There are also many nieces, nephews and cousins who will miss her.

She was a graduate of Franklin High School Class of 1938 and Paul D. Camp Community College, where she studied accounting. With this knowledge she opened a country store at Burgesses Corner, later operated by her best friend, Lina Harcum. The store was known throughout the community as “Checkerboard Corner.”

At the time of her death, she was the oldest living member of Sycamore Baptist Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher who taught the TEL class for many years. Affectionately known as “Miss Burgess,” “Evie Mae,” “Nannie” and “Aunt Sis,” she will be greatly missed by her church family and friends. She was also the oldest member of the Bland, Bradshaw, Carr, English, Vaughan and Wilson clan of Isle of Wight County, her ancestral home. For many years, she organized the family reunions which have been held for over 100 years, only curtailed during WWII.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 24, with the Rev. Tracy Pugh of Sycamore Baptist Church officiating. Due to COVID-19, the family will visit with all who attend immediately after the services at graveside. Burial will be in the Burgess/Battle family cemetery about a quarter of a mile from the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Gifts and Memorials at Sycamore Baptist Church, 31120 Sycamore Church Road, Franklin, VA 23851.

A special thanks to the staff of Personal Touch for their loving care of our mother.

Wright Funeral Home of Franklin is handling the arrangements.

www.wrightfuneralhome.org.