Henry D. Burns Sr.

Henry David Burns, Sr., 79, a business investor, died Saturday, May 5, 2007 in Moss Point. Services are today 2:30 at Barham Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Tom Sikes and Rev. Jimmy Harrison officiating. Burial will be in Burns Family Cemetery in Meridian. Barham Funeral Home in Meridian is handling arrangements.
Mr. Burns was born in Pushmataha, Ala. He served in the U.S. Armed Forces in 1945. He was a Valedictorian of his high school in Heidelberg. Mr. Burns was an honor graduate of the University of Alabama in 1949.
Mr. Burns served as the State Junior Chamber of Commerce President; International Director of the Junior Chamber of Commerce; Director of the Lauderdale County of March of Dimes, he was President of the Mississippi Oil Jobbers Association; he was elected President of the Mississippi Division of the Alabama/Mississippi Jobbers Association; he served as Mayor of Meridian from 1961 until 1965; he was named one of the youngest of Meridian's leading businessmen; he was the recipient of the Hartley Peavey Award, he was a Colonel on the Governor Ross Barnett staff in 1959, Ross Barnett's campaign manager in 1959, member of the A & I Board; President of the Lauderdale County Wholesale Petroleum Association; Vice President of the Optimist Club; he was instrumental in the establishment of numerous successful businesses and enterprises including: Burns & Burns Oil Company, Burns Oil Company, A & B Electric, IMC, A & B Communications, A & B Enterprises, A & B Cores, Music City Armature, Alex, Inc., Reman Incorporated, Metro Petroleum, numerous hotel holdings including Comfort Suites and Hampton Inns, timberland and real estate investments.
Survivors include: wife, Elizabeth Bryan Burns, of Meridian; daughter, Robyn Burns Mayfield and husband John of Meridian; seven sons, David Burns of Meridian, Johnny Bryan and wife Kaye of Caotota, Ala., Jack Bryan and wife Lela of Bay Springs, Ricky Bryan and wife Ann of Houston, Texas, Chuck Bryan and his wife Frances of Meridian, Kris Bryan of Jacksonville, Fla., Micheal Bryan and wife Tina of Jacksonville, Fla.; 27 grandchildren, Amy Countiss and husband Rick, Ashley Castle and husband Nick, Heather Holley and husband Brad, Kim Burns, David Burns III, Beau Burns, Hayden Burns, Layne Burns, Christy Bryan, Wesley Bryan, Emily Bryan, Catherine Byran, Corrie Bryan, Sara Bryan, Elizabeth Clarke, Taylor Clarke, and Courtney Clarke; and special family, Josephine Hodges of Merdian and many faithful friends and employees.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Beth Burns Hudson; brother, B.C. Burns; and his parents, B.C. Burns Sr. and Grace.
The family requests memorials be made to charity of choice.
Pallbearers will be the grandsons of Mr. Burns.