RONNIE KELVIN BURGESS
Mr. Ronnie Kelvin Burgess departed this life on Earth to enter eternal rest on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, at his home in Myrtle Beach. Born March 7, 1963, at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, he was the son of Mrs. Emily Pack Burgess and the late Mr. Muldrow J. Burgess.
Ronnie was raised in a Christian home where the family worshipped at St. Michael Baptist Church in Kingstree. After moving to Myrtle Beach, he continued his worship at Jerusalem Baptist Church in Murrells Inlet. He was educated in the public schools of Sumter County where he was a standout in sports, especially football. He was a 1981 graduate of Sumter High School. Ronnie furthered his education on a football scholarship at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he continued to excel in football as a defensive back for the Demon Deacons. In 1984, he broke the record for career interceptions. That record of 17 career interceptions was tied in 1988 but not broken until 20 years after that in 2008. He graduated with his BA in Communications in 1985 before going on to play professional football. On May 11, 1985, Ronnie married his high school sweetheart, Valerie Bradley, and to this union three daughters were born.
He and his new bride moved to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, soon after marriage where he played with the Ottawa Rough Riders in the Canadian Football League. In 1985, Ronnie was drafted in the 10th round by the Green Bay Packers where he played for one year until an injury sidelined his football career.
After football, Ronnie followed in his father's footsteps and pursued education as a career. He went back to school for his teaching certification and later earned his Master's in Educational Administration and Supervision from the University of South Carolina in 1998. He began his teaching career at Sumter High School where he put his communications degree to use teaching drama and English. He also served as a coach for both JV football and basketball and advisor to the Drama Club. In 1995, Ronnie moved to Myrtle Beach to teach at the Academy of the Arts, Science and Technology and coach the varsity football and varsity girls basketball teams at Socastee High School. He quickly moved to administration at Myrtle Beach High School. He started as an assistant principal at Myrtle Beach High School and was soon thereafter promoted to the principalship at Myrtle Beach High School. His talent for school administration was recognized, and he was called upon to be the first principal at St. James High School in 2002 and to lead the Academy for the Arts, Science and Technology in their new building, which opened in 2007. He later moved to Carolina Forest High School and was assistant principal there at the time of his passing. He was well-known and respected in the area. In 2005, Ronnie was inducted into the Burgess Hall of Fame in the great city of Burgess. In 2010, he was one of four inducted into the sixth class of the Sumter High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
In addition to his mother, Mrs. Emily Pack Burgess, he leaves to cherish fond memories his wife of 35 years, Valerie Bradley Burgess; their three daughters, Kemily and Shakena of the home and Kelsey Burgess (Sheldrick Greene) of Charlotte, North Carolina; two additional daughters, Michelle Gillespie Gray of Greenville and Holly (Aaron) Gillespie Barnes of Summerville; one brother, Bernard (Gardenia) Burgess of Sumter; one sister-in-law, Linda Bradley of Sumter; two brothers-in-law, James Earl and Lynn Bradley of Sumter; two special nieces, Shaunda (Gregory) Lamar of Pearland, Texas, and Dr. Kayla Bradley of Summerville; three grandchildren, Isabelle and Adelyn Barnes and Brenton Dickerson, all of Summerville; a special family friend, Eileen Gillespie of Myrtle Beach; godchildren, Eric Tennant Jr. and Desmond Wilson of Sumter, Greison McKelvey of Douglasville, Georgia; Khadafi Wright of Conway, and Madison Tomlin of Sumter; aunts, Christine (John) Whigham, Paralee McDowell, Charlotte Johnson, Windella Pinkney, Deloris (Hydrick) Pugh, Georgia Charles, Octavia Williams and Evelyn Pack; three uncles, Deacon Robert Burgess, Joshua Pack Jr. and Leroy (Elease) Pack; a host of cousins, nieces and nephews and other family, friends and former students and colleagues, all of whom will miss him dearly.
Public viewing will be held today from 2 to 6 p.m. at Job's Mortuary.
Mr. Burgess will be placed in the church at 10 a.m. Saturday for viewing until the hour of service.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Salem Chapel & Heritage Center, 101 S. Salem Ave., Sumter, SC 29150.
Interment will follow in Mulberry Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.
Family will receive friends at 1011 Booker St., Sumter, SC 29150, from 2 to 7 p.m. daily. All visitors are required to wear facial masks.
Job's Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., is in charge of arrangements.
Online memorials may be sent to the family at jobsmortuary@sc.rr.com, or visit us on the web at www.jobsmortuary.net.