Mr. William Thomas Burns, 82, passed away peacefully at his home in Kilmichael, MS on Monday, November 14, 2022. He was born in Winona, MS, on May 31, 1940, to William Grady and Ava Jeffcoat Burns. He was a lifelong member of the Huntsville Church of Christ near Kilmichael. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran and a 1960 graduate of Big Black High School in Kilmichael. He married Katie Boyd on June 17, 1961 at the bride’s home in Poplar Creek. Before retiring, he was an installer for Western Electric Communications. Thomas and his fellow installers worked jobs in telephone central offices all over the Southeast and occasionally other places, forming close bonds that lasted for life. Later, Thomas was a quality auditor for Marconi and Reltek. After ‘retirement’, he raised cattle and cut hay.
Mr. Burns is survived by his wife, Katie Boyd Burns of Kilmichael; daughters, Tina Burns Murrell (Steven Don) of Gonzales, LA and Karen Burns Ball (Matthew Stanton) of Laceys Spring, AL; and three grandsons, Eric Thomas Murrell (Alexis DeZayas), Kevin Donald Murrell (Emma Gordon), and Matthew Stanton Ball, Jr. (Audrey Eckart). In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Grady Warren Burns, and granddaughter, Rebecca Denise Ball.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, November 18, at Huntsville Church of Christ, French Camp, MS. Burial will follow in the Church cemetery, with Military Honors. Mr. Darrell Surrette and Mr. Nathan Wright will officiate the service. Pallbearers will be Eric Murrell, Kevin Murrell, Stan Ball, Steve Murrell, Matt Ball, and Paul Cummings.
Visitation will be Friday, November 18, from noon until service time at the Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, PO Box 22324, New York, NY 10087 or online at http://www.lls.org, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at http://www.stjude.org.
Oliver Funeral Home of Winona, Inc. 
I so loved Thomas even though I visited few times from New Jersey and North Carolina. I remember fondly when my brother Bill and his wife Cathy and I visited. He drove us out into the wilderness to see the wild hogs. What an adventure for us.
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Katie,
I am praying for you and your family, and I know it is hard to say goodbye. May your many memories comfort you in the future. He always was so nice when I saw him.
Eugenia Collins
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Katie, so sorry to hear of your loss will be praying for you and your family.
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Karen,
I am praying for you and your family at this time. May God give comfort to you all.
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So sorry to hear! Condolences!
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Katie. Will be thinking and praying for you and your family during these difficult days. I know Thomas has fought a battle for a while and is at peace now..love you all.
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Karen, we send our love from the Holy Land on the loss of your dad. We know only God can give you and all who loved your dad the peace you need at this time. That is our prayer for you and yours.
Shalom, Sue & Jeff
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Katy, I just saw Thomas’s obit. I’m so sorry and will be thinking about you and family. John and I always thought a lot of Warren and Thomas.
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Katie, I’m so sorry. Sending prayers for you and the family.
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Dear Ms Katie, I’m praying for yor sweet family for God’s peace and comfort during this time. He will be definitely missed.
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Katie, Tina and Karen
I have been praying and will continue to pray for you all each day. Thomas was a good man and I always enjoyed talking with him. He had a wonderful sense of humor and a cheerful smile. I was blessed to know him. I am sending much love to all of you.
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Katie, I am so sorry for the loss of your husband. Sending prayers to you and your family.
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Katie, Tina, Karen all the family, you are in my prayers concerning the death of Thomas. He was an amazing man and always one of my favorite cousins. I know only the comfort of God and your friends and loved ones will walk with you during this time. I love all of you so very much and I will cherish the memories of Thomas.
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Ms. Katie, I am so sorry I always loved to see Mr.Thomas he always had such a sweet smile and always something funny to say all of you will be in my prayers.
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Katie you are in our thoughts and prayers and we love you
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Katie and family,
We have been praying for Thomas and will continue to pray for all of you each day. Thomas and Katie have been great volunteers and have blessed us for so many years making drain pouches for our patients. Thomas and Katie both always had a smile on their faces when they would come to St. Dominic’s. Thomas was always ready with a great story or a joke to make us smile. Our thoughts are with all of you at this time.
Aimee Burrow, Manager
Volunteer Services
St. Dominic’s Hospital
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Sorry for your loss, Katie. May GOD see you thru the days ahead.
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MS. KATIE, I AM SO SORRY FOR THE LOSS OF YOUR HUSBAND. MR. BURNS WAS ALWAYS SO KIND AND FUNNY. HE WILL TRULY BE MISSED.
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