Jerry Burgess

NETTLETON – Gerald Lee “Jerry” Burgess, 67, a wonderful son, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and the “people’s banker” in Houston and Nettleton for many years, departed this life unexpectedly on Wednesday afternoon, October 7, 2020 while visiting his brother in Siloam Springs, Arkansas – of an apparent sudden heart attack. Jerry was born in Greenville, Mississippi, the son of the late Albert Asa “Bones” Burgess and Emma Katherine White Burgess, who survives. Jerry married Carol Ann Thompson Burgess on Aug. 8, 1976.  He graduated from Greenville High School in 1970. Jerry was a patriotic American and served in the U. S. Marine Corps from 1970-1974. He received his college education at Delta State University in Cleveland.  He chose the field of banking and spent much of his distinguished career with Sunburst Bank in Houston, Mississippi. Jerry furthered his banking education at the LSU School of Banking and Vanderbilt School of Banking. Jerry began his banking career as an Outside Collector at First National Bank in Greenville. Jerry moved to Houston in 1985 and worked there for twenty years. He moved to Nettleton and worked at Bancorp South until his retirement in 2015 as President of Bancorp South-Nettleton. He was known as a “down home, up close and personal banker” whose people skills and grand personality endeared him to hundreds of customers over the years. Jerry loved the outdoors, golfing, and any college sport, but was an avid Ole Miss Rebel Football fan. Jerry was completely devoted to his family, his mother, siblings, his wife, his two sons and grandchildren. He was a member of the Nettleton United Methodist Church. He was active in the community.

A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held at 2 PM Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020 at the Nettleton United Methodist Church with Rev. Cecil Locke, his pastor, officiating. Visitation will be from 1 PM-service time Sunday only at the Church.  Holland Funeral Directors is honored to be serving their friends.  Condolences may be emailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Carol of Nettleton; his sons, Matt Burgess of Nettleton and Jeff Burgess and his wife, April of Santa Rosa Beach, FL; his mother, Emma Katherine Burgess of Greenville; his grandchildren, Ragan, Gavin and Ethan;  his great-grandchildren, Presley, Blake, and Riley; his siblings,  Buddy Burgess (Carolyn) of Siloam Springs, AR, Steve Burgess (Linda) of Greenwood, Ernie Burgess (Shelley) of Quitman, MS, Evelyn Homan (Joe) of Knoxville, TN, and Beverly Williams (Mike) of Greenville; and numerous nieces and nephews and his many friends across the Mid-South.

Memorials may be made to Nettleton United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1114, Nettleton, MS 38858, or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 232 Danny Thomas Way, Memphis, TN 38105.