Reverend William James Burleigh

William James Burleigh, 75, of Lynchburg, suddenly passed away Saturday evening September 3, 2016. Born May 31, 1941, in Richmond, Virginia, he was the son of the late Rev. James Sidney Burleigh, a United Methodist Minister and the late Amalia Moore Burleigh.

Rev. Bill Burleigh was an undergraduate at Ferrum and Lynchburg colleges and a graduate student of Duke University Divinity School in North Carolina where returned on several occasions to perform services. He faithfully served as a United Methodist minister in the Virginia Annual Conference for thirty-two years throughout the state of Virginia until his retirement in 1995. While serving as a minister, he also co-owned and operated the Burleigh Charolais Farm for a number of years. He is a member of Centenary United Methodist Church and continued to serve their congregation as a Sunday school teacher, circle leader, choir member and member of the music committee prior to his illness. Previously, he started the Asbury Parkside Community Center for youths and the first day care center in Portsmouth, Virginia in his early ministry. After his retirement from the conference, he sang with the Jefferson Choral Society in Lynchburg for several years. Most recently he was appointed as a member of the Patient Advisory Board for the University of Virginia Dialysis Center located in Amherst. He was proud and honored to serve in all of these capacities for his family, congregations and friends as a theologian, community leader, teacher, counselor, confident and loyal friend. He was an avid Redskins fan, enjoyed flying, boating, camping, fishing, music and spending time and sharing his generous heart with his family and loved ones.

He is survived by his wife, Susan Karnes Burleigh and his beloved daughters, Karyl Burleigh Bloyer and her husband Christopher of Saint Leonard, MD and Catherine Burleigh Smith and her husband Brian of New Stanton, PA. He is also survived by his two grandsons Zachary and Sean Smith of New Stanton, PA.

A funeral service will be held at Whitten Timberlake Chapel at 11AM Saturday, September 10, 2016 at Whitten Timberlake Chapel, by the Rev. Bill Burleigh, the Rev. Doug Gunsalus and the Rev. Fred Arndt. Burial will follow at Fort Hill Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, 7404 Timberlake Road.

Memorial contributions may be made to Centenary United Methodist Church Building Fund, 1501 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24503.