GRANVILLE BURGESS

BURGESS The Honorable Judge Granville Cheveley Doc Burgess, age 63 of Fernandina Beach, FL, passed away peacefully Thursday, December 6, 2012 in his ancestral home surrounded by his loving family and friends. Judge Burgess, a native of Fernandina Beach was born February 16, 1949 to his parents Edwin Cheveley Burgess, Jr. and Ruth Sherman Humphreys Burgess. He graduated from Fernandina Beach High School, Class of 1967. He obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from Florida State University in December 1970. He was a member of Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity. In June 1973, he graduated from the University of Florida College of Law on the Dean s List with his Juris Doctorate. While at UF, he published an article in the Law Review and worked with Legal Aid. He was a member of Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity. On December 19, 1970 he married his high school sweetheart Cervera Ann Ferreira and they continued to make Fernandina Beach their home. He was a devoted father, respected mentor, avid reader, gifted gardener, scratch golfer, and sports fisherman. He enjoyed working on his aquariums and koi ponds as well as watching sports, westerns, and Law and Order. He had a love for cars and the Florida Gators. He was committed to his family, friends, and the Nassau County community. Judge Burgess was elected Nassau County Judge for the Fourth Judicial Circuit on November 7, 2006. Prior to becoming Judge, he was a prosecutor with the State Attorney s Office (1987-2006), Assistant Public Defender (1977-1981), Private Civil Law Attorney (1974-1997), Instructor at Florida Junior College of Jacksonville (1976-1982), and a former mortgage broker. Through the years while practicing law, Judge Burgess made time to give back to the community. He was an Elder, Clerk of the Session, and lifetime member of the First Presbyterian Church. He served as an officer for the Nassau County Bar Association, Inn of Court, Nassau County United Way, Kiwanis Club, and Special Olympics. He served on advisory boards for Micah s Place, First Coast Child Protection Team, Nassau County State Bank, Atlantic National Bank, Florida National Bank, Compass Bank, and Florida Community College. He was an active member of the McArthur Family YMCA and volunteered for the Katie Ride for Life. He was also a member of the Nassau County Canvassing Board, Historic Courthouse Preservation Committee, Optimist Club, Sunshine Rotary Club, Community Bible Study, and the Men s Bible Study at First Baptist Church. He received many service awards including the Fernandina Beach High School Hall of Fame, Jaycees Distinguished Service Award, Kiwanis President s Award, and Fernandina Beach Police Department s Community Service Award. Judge Burgess is survived by his wife, Cervera, and his three daughters, Christina Dorothea Burgess, [Tacachale] Gainesville, FL; Kari Sherman Burgess-Watkins (Ray) and Katherine Cervera Burgess; his grandson, Cheveley Burgess Watkins; his step-grandchildren, Austin Kyle Watkins and Sydney Rae Watkins; step-mother, Frances Burgess; sister-in-law, Dorothea Ferreira Stillwell; brother-in-law, Louis A. Tony Ferreira, III; nephews, Thomas Stillwell and John Stillwell (Nicole) all of Fernandina Beach, Louis A. Ferreira, IV (Cheri), Washington and Paul Ferreira (Vicki), Virginia. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Dr. David Granville Humphreys and Eva Mizell Henry Humphreys and his paternal grandparents, Edwin Cheveley Burgess, Sr. and Vera C. Burgess. Pallbearers are Neil Blalock, Honorable Walter L. Boatright, John J. Cascone, Esq., David Hardee, Jimmy L. Higginbotham, Arthur I. Jacobs, Esq., Bruce A. Jasinsky, Patrick F. Maroney, Esq., Daniel I. McCranie, Esq., Michael S. Mullin, Esq., Wesley R. Poole, Esq., John P. Scarboro, Paul Schwend, Glenn Whiddon, Marshall E. Wood, Esq., and Bill Wright. Honorary Pallbearers are William E. Bryan, Thomas C. Chambers, Esq., William Cook, Jake Flowers, Honorable Robert M. Foster, Roland Knight, Sonny Rutishauser, Honorable Thomas L. Seagraves, Steve Simmons, Jack Thompson, and Honorable Robert E. Williams. In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor may be made to Friends of Tacahale Fund for Progress House/Facility 8, 1621 Northeast Waldo Road, Gainesville, FL 32609; First Presbyterian Church, 9 North 6th Street, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034; Katie Caples Foundation, 98 South Fletcher Avenue, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034. Funeral Services will be at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at the First Presbyterian Church in Fernandina Beach. The family will receive friends on Monday from 5:00 7:00 PM in The Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard Funeral Home. Please share his life story at www.oxleyheard.com OXLEY HEARD FUNERAL DIRECTORS Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com