Carmen Dolores Burgess

Carmen Dolores Burgess, 72, of Bristow, VA passed away on December 18, 2022. Born May 23, 1950 to Helen (Peters) Graham and Ferdinand Graham, Carmen spent her childhood and early adulthood in the Canal Zone, Panama, where she graduated from Paraiso High School. Carmen married the love of her life, Arthur Lee Burgess, in 1978. Together, Carmen and Arthur spent over 44 wonderful years together and raised 3 children. As a military family, they traveled throughout the world before settling in the Northern Virgina area. Carmen received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Strayer University in 1989. She worked as an Eligibility Worker providing social services for the city of Alexandria, Virginia until her retirement in 2006. In retirement, she focused on what mattered most to her, her family. She loved her grandchildren and often bragged about their looks and intelligence. She was their biggest support in everything they did, from their education to sports. Carmen is preceded in death by her parents Helen and Ferdinand, her sister Joan, and her brother Ferdinand “Bob”. She is survived by her husband, Arthur, and their children Mark (Andrea), Melanie (Sean), and Mariette (Aaron) as well as her grandchildren, Mason, Ella, Jaxon, Justice, and Melanie. Carmen is also survived by her brother, Gerald, and two sisters, Alicia, and Felicia and countless nieces, nephews, and dear friends. A celebration of life service is scheduled for 11am on January 21, 2023 at the National Funeral Home and Memorial Park located at 7482 Lee Hwy, Falls Church, VA 22042. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Diabetes Association or Alzheimer's Association.