Stephen Wells Burnett

Stephen Wells Burnett of Sewanee, TN, died October 24, 2025 in Atlanta, GA.

Stephen was born August 13,1943 in Wilmington DE to James M. and Roberta H. Burnett, both originally Tennesseans. He graduated from Wilmington Friends School, Wake Forest University, and the University of Tennessee (UT) with an M.S. in Banking and Finance. He met Nancy at UT, and they were married in 1967. He was called to active duty in the Transportation Corps of the US Army, serving first at Ft. Eustis VA, and then as a convoy commander based at Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his duty there. After discharge from the military and completion of his degree, he and Nancy moved to Atlanta where he later became partner at Touche Ross & Co (merged with Deloitte), and then was the first Southeast regional partner of David M. Griffith & Co, where he specialized in municipal accounting and fleet management. He was a member of the 1980-81 class of Leadership Atlanta, a panelist on a Fulton County Special Grand Jury, and a member of the vestry of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.

Steve and Nancy retired to Sewanee, TN where he was not the retiring type. He taught a short course on church finance to seminarians at the School of Theology, and was an active fundraiser for the Sewanee Civic Association, leading the effort for a new playground. He was also an annual volunteer for the Sewanee Music Festival, a judge in the world-famous Sewanee 4th of July Mutt Show and served as a Trustee of the University for 3 years.

Steve greeted friends and strangers alike with an open heart and genuine curiosity. He approached life with a silly sense of humor and tended to get misty-eyed whenever he felt joy or pride, which was often. He had an uncanny memory for people and places, and loved history, trivia, 50s rock n’ roll, The Princess Bride, and dad jokes. Whether on the tennis or pickleball court, he brought the same gregariousness that made every moment in his company a joy. His spirit of kindness lives on through his family who carry with them his appreciation for others, the importance of work for social justice, and the value of a purposeful life.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy, his daughters, Madison Burnett (David Chung), Emily Parish (Sam), Sharon Humphreys (Sarah Barry), and seven granddaughters: Larrea, Jamaica, and River Humphreys Horner; Abigail and Alice Burnett Chung; and Lucy and Wells Parish. He was predeceased by his parents, brother, Robert H. Burnett, and Robert’s wife, Mary, and is survived by their children, Virginia and Rob.

Donations can be made in Steve’s honor to The Episcopal Parish of St. Mark and St. Paul on the Mountain in Sewanee.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.