Larry Burgess

Funeral services for Mr. Joseph "Larry" Burgess, age 79 of Cookeville, will be held Friday, December 2, 2022 at 1:00 pm at Washington Aveune Baptist Church. Rev. Mark Gaw and Rev. Bryant Owens will officiate. Interment will follow in Cookeville City Cemetery.

His family will receive friends Friday from 11am until service time at the church.

Larry passed away Tuesday, November 29, 2022 at his daughter's residence.

He was born Sunday April 11, 1943 in Detroit, MI to the late Nathan and Margaret Goodwin Burgess.

A self-described “fruit man,” Larry started out delivering produce to grocery stores up into Kentucky and went on to lead a team to open one of the first Save-A-Lot stores in Tennessee, eventually opening twenty-eight stores in Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama. He was an early developer of apartments in Cookeville and also developed subdivisions throughout Putnam County, including Brookside, Riverbend, Creekwood and Heritage Green. Later, he became an owner of Cookeville Limestone.

While Larry always enjoyed making a business deal, he always made time to serve the Lord. He served as a deacon, treasurer and on the building committee of Wilhite Baptist Church. He sought in all ways to further God’s kingdom and help as many people as he could. His generosity knew no bounds. He gave to the church, his family, his many friends, his business partners, and strangers he met who needed a ride to work. He shared with us his wisdom, his jokes, his kindness, his great advice, and most of all, his love for the Lord.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Evelyn Gaw Burgess (whom he married September 27, 1963 in Cookeville); three daughters, Rhonda (Bryant) Owens of Cookeville, Tammy (Mark) Werner of Chattanooga, and Kelli (Tim) Preast of Chattanooga; seven grandchildren, Abigail (Giffin) Palmer, Emilie Werner, Ellie Werner, Jonathan Werner, Kaitlin Preast, Josiah Guiles and Logan Owens.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Don Burgess.

Roger Randolph, Chad Gilbert, Aaron Bernhardt, Brian Murphree, Carl Brown and Paul Roberts will serve as pallbearers.

Memorial contributions are suggested to be made to Mustard Seed Ranch, 4955 Kuykendall Rd, Cookeville, TN 38501.

Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (931)526-6111. Share memories and condolences at www.hhhfunerals.com.