Lucile Jackson Burgess

Services for Lucile Jackson Burgess, age 97, of Thomasville, will be held on Sunday, April 7, 2024, at 2 pm at Dawson Street Baptist Church, where she was a member. Reverend Lee Waller will officiate. The interment will take place at Laurel Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Burgess died peacefully at home on Thursday, April 4, 2024. Born in Thomasville on January 21, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Joe Wiley Jackson and Ethel Landreth Jackson. She was Married August 20, 1950, to Grady C. Burgess, who preceded her in death on December 8, 2000.

A graduate of Thomasville High School, she pursued a career in education. She graduated from Valdosta State University with an education degree and received a master's degree in education from Florida State University. She started her teaching career at Pavo High School where she began a lifetime of friendships with her students. She later taught sixth grade at Southside Elementary School in Cairo and returned to Thomasville in 1954 where she taught fifth and sixth grades in the Thomasville City School System. In 1963 she became principal of Jerger Elementary School for 21 years until her retirement in 1986.

In addition to her educational life, she was a member and past president of Killarney Queen Garden Club, a past president of the Thomasville Garden Club, Inc., past president of The Thomasville-Thomas County Retired Educators, the Alpha Delta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, and in the 1990s served on the Board of Directors at the Lapham Patterson House. Mrs. Burgess was Woman of the Year in 1981.

As a dedicated member of Dawson Street Baptist Church, she taught Sunday School to younger and older women for most of her adult life. She was active in Dawson Street's Women's Missionary Unit and Thomas County Baptist Women's Missionary Unit where she served in many positions, including the Associational Team. She began a Bible study, "Going through the Bible", in June of 2005, holding study sessions at the church every Thursday morning for many years.

She is survived by her sister, Donna Laws; brother-in-law Larry Reeves; son-in-law Curtis Chastain, and three grandsons Wesley Chastain, Mark Chastain, and Eric Chastain (Jennifer); two grandsons Landin Chastain, Tycin Chastain; and two granddaughters Abigail Chastain, Noel Chastain. She is also survived by nieces Lynn McKenzie (Norrie), Chris Sanchez (Daren), Pattie Wood, Pam Langston (Wayne), Rebecca Reeves, Susan Brown; and nephews Mike Taylor, Randy Reeves (Dana), Richard Brown; great nieces Morgan Taylor, Julie Carroll (John), Courtney McKenzie, Britney Glass (Ross), Jennifer Kirby (Alex), Jaidyn Wood, Melanie Hobbs, Sierra Wheeler (Dylan), Kristin Reeves, Kailee Flynn (Adam), Miranda and Marissa Wynn; great nephews Hunter Taylor, Garrett Taylor (Aubrey), Matt McKenzie (Logan), Jeremy Parrish, Jack Wood (Fiona), Brandon Godwin, Tyler Langston (Kaycie), Jarred Langston (Stephanie), Blake Hunt, Bradley Hunt (Jen), Wesley Dekle. She is also survived by 29 great-great nieces and nephews.

She is also preceded in death by her sister Jo Ann Taylor, and daughter Vicki Chastain.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, April 6, 2024, from 4 pm - 6 pm at Allen and Allen Funeral Home.