Joseph "Joe" Burns

1939 - 2016

Joseph Burns

November 11, 1939 - September 20,2016

Raleigh

Joseph Henry "Joe" Burns (76), passed away on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 at Rex Hospital with his wife by his side. He was born in Pottsville, PA in November of 1939, the son of the late William John Burns and Edna Davis Burns. His family moved to South Florida when he was a young boy, where he attended school through high school (Hialeah High School, Hialeah FL). Joe went to work for Winn Dixie Stores starting in the Miami, FL division as a bag boy. Over a period of 35 years, he was extremely successful, being promoted many times at both store and headquarter level and retired as a Grocery Merchandiser in the Raleigh, NC division. He enjoyed retirement for a short while, but his love of people and the grocery industry were stronger than his desire to stay retired. He joined Griffins Food Stores as a Retail Operations Supervisor, working with them for eight years helping to manage stores in the Red Oak, Rocky Mount, Wilson and Spring Hope areas. He especially loved that job because his responsibilities included both inter-personal/people skills and overall operational responsibilities.

Joe was a people person. He never met a stranger and he remembered the most minute details of people's lives. If Joe counted you as a friend, he was your friend for life, and he would do whatever he could for you. Throughout his adult life, he was constantly taking huge "care" packages to various offices, including doctors' offices, the shop where he got his hair cut, the City of Raleigh Police Department, in which case he always enclosed a card addressed "To Raleigh's Finest," with a note inside saying, "We appreciate all you do." The list is too long to include all the places to which he personally delivered these packages.

Joe is survived by Brenda Griffin Burns, his loving wife of 31 years. He is lovingly remembered by his children, Jodi Burns, James Burns and wife Nancy, Joseph Burns, Jr. and wife Jill, and Jamie Perna, as well as his sister Rosemary Caldwell and husband Stan, his grandchildren, Joseph Michael Burns, Jared Austin Burns, Devan Joseph Perna, James Maxwell Burns and Sophie Elizabeth Burns.

He was preceded in death by his two brothers William John Burns, Jr. and Patrick Lamar Burns.

He is blessed to be remembered by his in-laws, George Griffin, wife Dianne and children, Pat Griffin, wife Melinda and children; and close friends/relatives Kensey and Sue Murray and family.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 4:00 PM at Red Oak Baptist Church, 5515 Red Oak Road, Red Oak, NC 27868.

Visitation will begin 2:30 PM until Service time. Burial will be in the Red Oak Cemetery.

Those who wish to remember Joe with a memorial may make gifts in his name to Red Oak Baptist Church or the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.

You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com