Mr. Lonnie Rondall Burns, 63, of 207 Adamstown Rd, Bowersville GA, died Saturday, March 17, 2007 at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Gainesville GA.
Born on January 6, 1944 in Hart Co. Georgia, he was the son of Willie Craft Burns of Hartwell and the late Teasley Burns.He was a 1962 graduate of Hart County High School, attended Young Harris College and graduated Cum Laude from Piedmont College with a BA.He graduated from Western Carolina University with a MAED in special education.He also graduated from University of Georgia with an EDS 6yr certificate in Exceptional Children and Administration & Supervision.
Mr. Burns was a former social studies teacher at Toccoa High School and taught special education at East Hall High School.He was a former special education director and teacher for Habersham County School System, where he started the first Special Olympics for Habersham County and also served for three years as District 2 Director for Georgia Special Olympics.He was former principal of Woodville Elementary School and served as Superintendent of Habersham County Schools for 12 years.Mr. Burns was a former assistant principal at Hart County High School and a former principal of the Hart County Middle School.He was currently serving as Finance, Building and Facility Director for the Hart County School System.
He was a former member, Past President and Secretary of the Habersham Camp of Gideons International, member of the Georgia Retired Teachers Association, Clarksville Masonic Lodge, Clarksville Chapter Order of the Easter Star, Scottish Rite, Hartwell Rotary Club and American Legion Post #109.He was a former member of the Cornelia United Methodist Church, former Sunday School Superintendent and member of the Men's Bible Group.He was currently a member of the Hartwell First United Methodist Church.Mr. Burns was a Vietnam era U.S. Army veteran, stationed at Fort Richey, where he was an E4 Military Policeman.He was once named post soldier of the month.
Survivors include his mother; wife: Phyllis Franklin Burns of the home; a son: Michael Lonnie Burns of Cornelia; a daughter: Julie Kay Burns of Atlanta; a brother: T. Mark Burns of Westminster SC and a sister: Melba Windham of Hilton Head Island SC.
Funeral services will be Monday, March 19 at 4:30 p.m. at the Hartwell First United Methodist Church with Dr. R. Allen Stewart and Rev. Jim Winn officiating.Burial will be in the Nancy Hart Memorial Park with military honors.The body will be placed in the church at 4:00 p.m. Monday.
The body is at the Strickland Funeral Home ~ Hartwell Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Sunday evening and 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Monday afternoon.The family is at the home.Flowers are optional; memorials may be made to the Hartwell First United Methodist Church Building Fund, 200 E. Howell St., Hartwell GA30643 or to the Hart County Relay for Life, 1610 Lightwood Rd., Hartwell GA30643.