Cullen Burgess

BURGESS, Cullen R., 93, of Valrico and recently Hawthorne Village, passed away May 19, 2007. He was a devoted member of Presbyterian Church of Seffner. Cullen was preceded in death by his loving wife of 70 years, Gertrude Stevenson Burgess; his son-in-law, Charles H. Livingston; and his parents, Reese Burgess and Lizzie Burgess. He is survived by his daughter, Vonda Burgess Livingston; granddaughter, Shayla Livingston Hall; great- grandson, Cameron Bryce Hall; brother-in-law, Wilmon Stevenson; sister-in-law, Audrey Stevenson; brother-in-law, Don Uzzle; and many nieces and nephews. Cullen was born in Petrois, Ala. He moved to Tarpon Springs, Fla., as a child. He graduated from Tarpon Springs High School, where he played football, basketball and tennis. Cullen was a supervisor for Cone Brothers Construction Co., where he built runways at MacDill Air Force Base and emergency landing strips in the Everglades during World War II. He later retired from the Florida Department of Agriculture after 30 years of service. On Friday, June 22, the family will receive friends 6-7 p.m. at Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home in Brandon, (813) 689-8121. A graveside service will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 23, at East Elfers Cemetery. The family would like to express their thanks for the kindness shown by the staff of Hawthorne Assisted Living Facility, LifePath Hospice and all the wonderful people who visited him during his declining days.