Joseph Blakeney Burgess
November 24, 1997 — February 20, 2020
On November 24, 1997, Blake Burgess joined his sister, Brooklyn, to form the duo that would bring 22 years of joy to Joe and Robin Burgess and their family. Blake was born to Joe and Robin as their second child and only son, but he quickly became the son of First Apostolic Church and the Carthage community. As he became more aware of the place and people of his upbringing, he made them his own place and people. This was a mutual relationship because FAC and the Carthage community accepted Blake as their own.
For 22 years he worked to establish his place as a favorite son to his beloved church and community. After graduating from Mississippi State University, he devoted three months of time and labor toward the completion of our new building at FAC. In the fall of 2019, he took a position with the Mississippi Department of Transportation and began establishing a career for his future. However, that career was going to be the smaller of his positions in life as he would become more involved in ministry at FAC. His propensity for slow speech and deliberate actions seemed to make it easy to receive him as a future leader among his people.
But none of that would come to fruition. Tragically, he was killed in a car wreck on that fateful Thursday morning of February 20, 2020. His life ended after a brief time, but his legacy will endure long after his demise. Someone described him as a shooting star burning brightly and quickly before disappearing forever, leaving viewers in awe and wishing for more. He lived life in such a manner as to ensure his memory will continually live in our minds and hearts.
Also, to the glory of God, a beautiful new building now stands for FAC’s faithful members and as a beacon of truth to our community, Blake’s community. In a small way, this new building is a memorial to Blake, partly because of his strong desire to see its completion but also because his story inspired many churches and individuals to make generous financial donations in Blake’s honor and memory. We’re forever grateful to Blake, and those he inspired, for their tremendous efforts in finalizing our building.
This is the short version told of a short life lived. He lived for God and for people as he was a servant of God and a friend of people. May his memory continue to inspire others to live for God and to “be a friend and lend a hand.”