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Source: Adams Funeral Home
Johnnie Burgess was born Sept. 14, 1903 in Calvert and lived there until his early twenties. In 1931 he married Ruby Ashton, daughter of George and Sally Ashton, and they moved to Kosse and then to Marlin Falls.Johnnie first came to Crosbyton in 1939 to work in the fall cotton harvest and then in 1947 he and Ruby came to stay. He worked as a farm laborer for many years and worked at West Texas and Crosbyton Farmers co-op Gins during ginning season. He worked for Walter Simpson, Bob Ellis and became employed by Elzina Lamar in 1950. In 1958 Mrs. Lamar built the building that now houses Crosby county Pioneer Memorial and Johnnie became employed there full-time. He was present at the dedication in August, 1958 and from that time until his death in 1974 he gave unselfishly of his time to make the community center the show place it is today.
Johnnie was one of the charter members and served as a Deacon of Galilee Baptist church in Crosbyton until his death Jan. 24, 1974.
They had no children but a host of nieces and nephews and many friends mourned his passing.
Ruby Ashton Burgess was born in Calvert, TX to Ms. Sallie Witted. Ruby confessed Christ at an early age and united with Spring Hill Baptist Church, Calvert, TX. She worked diligently as a member until she married Johnnie Burgess December 24, 1931 in Groesbeck, TX. Mr. Burgess lived in Kosse, TX. After living in Kossse, they moved to Crosbyton, TX in 1947. Upon making Crosbyton their home, she united with Galilee Baptist Church, where she remained a faithful member until her passing on Wednesday, July 28, 1982 at 3:30 a.m. at St. Mary´s Hospital, Lubbock, TX.
She left to mourn her an immediate family of two brothers, Eddie B. Whitaker, Dallas, TX; Celeste Ashton, Los Angeles, CA; two sisters, Josephine Jones, Denver, CO and Adell Scruggs, Dallas, TX; a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Memorial services were held for Ruby Saturday, July 31, 1982 in the Galilee Baptist Church at two o´clock p.m. in Crosbyton, TX with Rev. Eugene Gentry officiating, assisted by Rev. Billy Wiley. Nephews served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Edward Coppage, Homer Robertson, J.N. Hutchinson, Albert Moore and Cloetha Cole.
"A History of Black Families - Crosby County, Texas 1921-2001" by Crosby County Historical Commission
Source: Crosby County History Book, 1876-1977
A longtime, respected Crosbyton resident, Johnnie Burgess, was claimed by death about 5 p.m. last Thursday in Crosbyton Clinic Hospital. He was 70.Memorial rites were conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Galilee Baptist Church by the Rev. Joe Horn, pastor.
Interment was made in Crosbyton Cemetery, under direction of King Funeral Home.
Born Sept. 14, 1903 in Calvert, Mr. Burgess resided there until his early 20s.
He and the former Ruby Ashton were married in 1931.
Burgess lived in Kosse and Marian before coming to Crosbyton the first time in 1939 to work in the fall cotton harvest and then in 1947 he and his wife moved here permanently.
He worked as a farm laborer for many years at the West Texas and Farmers Co-op gins during ginning season. He became employed by the Lamars in 1950 and in 1958 when the Lamars built the Pioneer memorial Building, Johnnie began working there.
Mr. Burgess was present at the dedication and from that time until shortly before his death, he had faithfully served the Civic Center to make it the show place it is today.
The deceased was one of the charter members and a deacon of the Galilee Baptist Church.
Survivors are his wife, Ruby of Crosbyton; three brothers, James and Julius of Calvert and L.D. of Marlin; two sisters, Mary Pride of Calvert and Elma Mack of Mexia; a host of nieces, nephews and numerous other relatives and friends.
Crosbyton Review, January 31, 1974
Record provided by Crosby County Pioneer Memorial Museum
transcribed by Linda Fox Hughes
CROSBYTON (Special) - Services for Ruby Burgess, 71, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Galilee Baptist Church with the Rev. Eugene Gentry and the Rev. Billy Joe Willey officiating.Burial will be in the Crosbyton Cemetery under the direction of Adams Funeral Home.
Mrs. Burgess, a native of Calvert, died at 4 a.m. Tuesday in St. Mary´s Hospital in Lubbock after a brief illness.
She married Johnny burgess Dec. 24, 1931, in Groesbeck; he died in 1974. Before moving to Crosbyton, she had lived in Marlin, Kosse and Calvert.
She was a Baptist.
Survivors include two sisters, Josephine Jones of Colorado and Adell Scruggs of Dallas; a brother, Eddie B. Whitaker of Dallas; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Nephews will be pallbearers.
Lubbock Avalanche Journal, July 30, 1982
Record provided by Crosby County Pioneer Memorial Museum
transcribed by Linda Fox Hughes
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