Dr. Charles Duane Burgess Sr.
91, Columbia
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, at First Baptist Church for Dr. Charles Duane Burgess Sr., M.D., 91, of Columbia, who went home to his Lord and Savior on Aug. 16. Burial followed in Lake Park Hills Cemetery in Laurel. Dr. Bryant Barnes, Bro. Tom Thurman and Pastor Brett Frazier officiated at the services. Visitation was held from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25, at Hathorn Funeral Home.
He was born in Chickasaw County in 1932, as the last of 11 children of Joseph Roland and Lora Burgess. At Houlka High School, he was elected Class President and graduated as Valedictorian. In high school, a teacher encouraged him to use his talents in the medical field, and he decided to become a physician. He went on to become a board-certified psychiatrist, having attended East Central Junior College, Mississippi College and the University of Mississippi Medical School. Plus, he did an internship at U.S. Public Service Hospital in New Orleans, a psychiatric residency at the Cherokee Iowa Mental Health Institute and military service at the U.S. Treasury in Washington D.C., conducting psychological evaluations on Secret Service agents.
He lived a life of service and believed he could have the most significant effect in his home state of Mississippi. He and his family settled in Hattiesburg in 1967, and he began a private psychiatric practice with his wife, Virginia, as the office manager. He established the psychiatric wing at Forrest General Hospital, and he continued practicing in Hattiesburg while recruiting additional psychiatrists to the area for over 35 years. He took a few breaks from private practice to serve as Chief of Medical Staff at Bryce Hospital in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and later as a staff psychiatrist helping servicemen and women at Fort Sill, Okla.
His honors represent his focus on establishing vital psychiatric services in Mississippi. He is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, earned a 25 Years’ Service Award from Pine Grove Behavioral Health, a center that he helped establish, and was inducted into the Forrest General Physician Hall of Fame in 2011. He has several buildings with his name on them, including the Administration Building of South Mississippi Regional Center in Long Beach and the Pine Grove Psychiatric Intake Care Unit in Hattiesburg.
The most important accolade for him was being the best husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and nephew that a family could ask for. As a Christian, he led his family in serving the Lord and was a member of the University Baptist Church of Hattiesburg for 40 years and later a member of the First Baptist Church of Columbia for 17 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his devoted wife of 55 years, Virginia Melvin Burgess; his son, Charles D. Burgess Jr.; his grandson, Victor C. Burgess; and his brothers and sisters.
Survivors include his three daughters, Teri D. Burgess of Grapevine, Texas, Bonita Beckham (Rick) of Princeton, Texas, and Zelma Magee (Robin) of Columbia; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
In place of flowers, memorial gifts can be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association, Marion County Food Pantry or a favorite charity.
