The funeral service will be held for Charles Duane Burgess, Sr., M.D. on Saturday, August 26, 2023, at 10:00 A.M. at First Baptist Church in Columbia, MS, with Dr. Bryant Barnes, Brother Tom Thurman and Pastor Brett Frazier officiating. Following the funeral, graveside services will be held at Lake Park Hills Cemetery at 2:00 P.M. in Laurel, MS. Visitation will be held on Friday, August 25, 2023, from 4-5 P.M. for family,  5–8 P.M. for friends and family at Hathorn Funeral Home, Columbia, MS.

On August 16, 2023, C. Duane Burgess, M.D., went home to his Lord and Savior after 91 wonderful years on this earth. Duane was born in Chickasaw County, MS 1932, as the last of 11 children of Joseph Roland and Lora Burgess.

At Houlka High School, he was elected Class President and graduated as Valedictorian. In high school, a teacher encouraged him to use his talents in the medical field, and he decided to become a physician. Duane went on to become a board-certified psychiatrist, having attended East Central Jr. College, Mississippi College and the University of Mississippi Medical School. Plus, an internship at U.S. Public Service Hospital, New Orleans, a psychiatric residency at the Cherokee Iowa Mental Health Institute, and military service at the U.S. Treasury, Washington DC conducting psychological evaluations on Secret Service agents.

Duane lived a life of service and believed he could have the most significant effect in his home state of Mississippi. He and his family settled in Hattiesburg in 1967, and he began a private psychiatric practice with his wife Virginia as the office manager. Dr. Burgess established the psychiatric wing at Forrest General Hospital, and he continued practicing in Hattiesburg while recruiting additional psychiatrists to the area for over 35 years. He took a few breaks from private practice to serve as Chief of Medical Staff at Bryce Hospital in Tuscaloosa, AL and later as a staff psychiatrist helping servicemen and women at Fort Sill, OK.

Duane's honors represent his focus on establishing vital psychiatric services in Mississippi. He is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, earned a 25 Years' Service Award from Pine Grove Behavioral Health, a center that he helped establish, was inducted into the Forrest General Physician Hall of Fame in 2011 and has several buildings with his name on them, including the Administration Building of South Mississippi Regional Center, Long Beach MS and the Pine Grove Psychiatric Intake Care Unit, Hattiesburg, MS.

The most important accolade for Duane was being the best husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and nephew that a family could ask for. As a Christian, he led his family in serving the Lord and was a member of the University Baptist Church of Hattiesburg, MS, for 40 years and later a member of the First Baptist Church of Columbia, MS, for 17 years.

Dr. Burgess was preceded in death by his parents, his devoted wife of 55 years, Virginia Melvin Burgess, his son, Charles D. Burgess, Jr., his grandson, Victor C. Burgess and his brothers and sisters.

Dr. Burgess is survived by his three daughters, Teri D. Burgess of Grapevine, TX; Bonita Beckham and husband, Rick, of Princeton, TX and Zelma Magee and husband, Robin, of Columbia, MS; his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

In place of flowers, memorial gifts can be sent to the Alzheimer's Association, Marion County Food Pantry or a favorite charity.