Post by Steven Bailey

Mr. Collie Hearne “Buck” Burns was born at the Wadesboro Hospital on Morven Road on July 12, 1920 to Mr. Collie H. Burns & Connie Allen Burns. Mr. Burns graduated from Wadesboro High School in 1937. During his 4 years at Wadesboro High School, he participated in the following school activities; Tennis Club 9th & 10th grades; Radio Club 9th & 10th grades; Glee Club 10th grade; Cooking Club 10th grade & Quill Club 10th & 11th grades. Mr. Burns served in the United States Army Air Force during WWII. He enlisted on June 24, 1942 & was honorably discharged on November 10, 1945. He was not involved in any battles. He received the following decorations & citations; American Theatre Service Medal; Good Conduct Medal & World War II Victory Medal. After leaving the Army Air Force, he attended & graduated from Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina. On November 4, 1942, Mr. Collie Hearne Burns of Wadesboro married Miss Gladys Marie Northcutt of McFarlan, North Carolina. They were married at Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church in McFarlan. He was 22 & she was 24. Witnesses were Callie Maye Maske, Mrs. Grover C. Northcutt & Mrs. Connie Allen Burns. Mr. & Mrs. Burns would live for many years on Morven Road in Wadesboro. After teaching two years of public school in the Burnsville Community of Anson County, he embarked on a 20-year textile career that would lead him to a research position with the DuPont Corporation. Following his textile career, Buck undertook the hospital administrator's position at Bissell Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. He retired in 1981 from the Delaware Division of Public Health as Director of the Fiscal Department. After retirement, Buck returned to Wadesboro where he was a member of the First United Methodist Church & the Wesley Adult Bible Class. He was also a life member & Past Master of Kilwinning Masonic Lodge #64 as well as a member of the Carolina Consistory of Scottish Rite, the Oasis Temple of the Shriners, the Anson Shrine Club & the Wadesboro Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. At the time of Mr. Burns passing at the age of 83 on Sunday, May 16, 2004 he was survived by his wife of sixty-two years; their son; his sister, Martha Burns Steagall of Morven; nieces, nephews, cousins & friends. Burial was conducted with Masonic graveside rites at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in McFarlan, North Carolina. This tribute copied from various records, located on the Ancestry website. Photo of Mr. Burns copied from the 1937 Yearbook of Wadesboro High School.