William Burt

WILLIAM S. BURT

Mr. William S. (Bill) Burt, age 92 of Dawson County, Georgia, died December 11, 2024. His is not a death to be mourned but rather a life to be celebrated. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Bill was born in Adel, Georgia on October 15, 1932 to the late Myrtle Wakefield Burt and Early Parks Burt. He grew up in Adel, graduating from Cook County High School in 1950 as valedictorian, and leading the Hornets to the 1949 Georgia Class B State Football Championship his Senior year which earned him a football scholarship to the University of Georgia. While at UGA he was a varsity football letterman, member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, and Cadet Colonel of the Air Force ROTC. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1954 with a degree in Accounting.

Bill met the love of his life, Harriet Allen of Decatur, Georgia, at UGA and they married May 14, 1955 at the First Methodist Church in Decatur, reporting for duty in San Angelo, Texas two days after their wedding. Bill served proudly in the U. S. Air Force for eleven years, with three years of active duty and the remaining time in the Air Force Reserves, leaving as a Senior Pilot and flight instructor with the rank of Captain. He loved his time in the Air Force but did not want a life of being transferred regularly, so he and Harriet decided to settle down and raise their family in Decatur near extended family.

It was at this time, in October 1957, that he began his career at C&S National Bank in Atlanta. In 1970 he graduated from the Harvard University Program for Management Development. He was active for many years in Robert Morris Associates, the industry group for loan credit officers, serving as National Director from 1986-1989. He retired as Executive Vice President of Bank of America in 1993 with 37 years of service.

Bill always considered civic involvement an obligation and a privilege, and was a master at fund-raising. He served with the Kiwanis Club of Atlanta, United Way and the Boy Scouts of America. In the past, he was Vice President-Finance and member of the Executive Board of the Atlanta Area Council of the Boy Scouts; was the recipient of the Silver Beaver Award for outstanding service to scouting, and received the Distinguished Scouter Award for 25 years of service to scouting. More recently he was former President of the Dawsonville (Georgia) Lions Club where he was named a Melvin Jones Fellow for Dedicated Human Service by Lions Club International; member of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce where he was the recipient of the Jim Wallace Volunteer of the Year Award in 2003; and member of the Community Advisory Board of The Chestatee State Bank.

Bill loved the LORD and was very involved in all the churches he and Harriet attended through the years. He was a former Deacon and Elder at Clairmont Presbyterian Church in Decatur; charter member and former Elder of Christ Church in Lilburn, Georgia; and an Elder at The Church of the Apostles (COTA) in Dawson County. He loved Young Life, a ministry introducing middle school and high school kids to Jesus and helping them grow in their faith. He served on the Board of Young Life in DeKalb County, Georgia before moving to Dawsonville in 1999. He helped organize Young Life in Dawson County, was a former Chairman of the Committee, and was instrumental as a member of the Development Board of Young Life helping raise funds to buy the land and develop SharpTop Cove, a Young Life camp in Pickens County, Georgia.

The most important things to Bill were his relationship with God, his family, serving unselfishly, his patriotism to this country, and Georgia Football. We are glad he lived to see the Dawgs win a couple of recent national championships! He always led an active lifestyle enjoying tennis, walking and boating, and he maintained many lifelong friendships. He and Harriet loved to travel – visiting all seven continents during their traveling years!

Mr. Burt is survived by his three loving children and their spouses - son Barry (Sharon) Burt of Brookhaven, Georgia; daughter Barbara (Phil) Johnson of Dawsonville; and son Andy (Susan) Burt of Cumming, Georgia; five grandchildren – Jennifer Burt of Atlanta;
Kristina Burt of Alpharetta, Georgia; Andrew (Kimberley) Burt of Sugar Hill, Georgia; Tony (Beverly) Johnson of Cumming; and Phil (Laurie) Johnson of Roswell, Georgia; and four great-grandchildren, Jonah, Eleanor, Parker and Jack Johnson. In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by Harriet, his beloved wife of 63 years.

The Burt Family would like to thank his family at the Oaks at Hampton for their loving care over the last nine years as he faced both the physical and cognitive challenges of Parkinson’s disease. We also are grateful for the compassionate caregivers at Caritas Hospice.

Bill’s life will be celebrated at a Memorial Service to be held at the Church of the Apostles (COTA) in Dawsonville, on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at 10:30 AM with Rev. J.P. Morris officiating. The family will receive guests following the service at a reception in the Fellowship Hall of the church. The church is located at 32 Grant Road West in Dawsonville. He is to be cremated with internment at a later date in the Decatur Cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be made to The Church of the Apostles, 32 Grant Rd. W., Dawsonville, GA 30534; or to SharpTop Cove, 76 Camp Hope Road, Jasper, GA 30143.

McDonald & Son Funeral Home in Cumming is in charge of arrangements.