Dr. J. Thomas Burriss
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James Thomas Burriss passed away at his home on April 17, 2021 in Belton, SC. There will be a service of worship celebrating his life at Belton Presbyterian Church on April 20, 2021 at 2:00pm. The family will receive friends at the church from 12:30 until 1:30, prior to the service.
Thomas was known to his patients and friends as "Dr. B" and to his family as Papa. Thomas was born on August 6, 1946 to the late James Claude Burriss and the late Georgia Keasler Burriss. He was a 1964 graduate of Abbeville High School where he met his high school sweetheart and wife of 50 years, Andrea. A graduate of Newberry College, he completed a BA in History in 1968. He was a member of The Kappa Alpha Order, serving as an officer in 1966 when the fraternity chartered its Newberry College chapter. He completed a Doctorate of Dental Medicine from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1972. Dr. B established a dental practice in Belton. In his 45 years of practice, he also specialized in orthodontics and TMJ management. He was a member of numerous dental organizations, including The American Orthodontic Society and The Academy of General Dentistry. Thomas was inducted in The Court of Honor of the Kappa Alpha Order, Graves Province in 2008.
For over 40 years, he cherished his Monday evenings with the Belton Monday Night Football Club. Together, they made many memories on dinner outings and road trips to the Atlanta Falcons and ACC Basketball Tournaments. He lived a full life while rafting the Colorado River, running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain and spending time with his family at his favorite place on earth, Wild Dunes.
Thomas is survived by his wife Andrea Norman Burriss, daughter Ellen Burriss Smith (Thomas) of Florence and son James Mark Burriss of Belton. His is loved and remembered by his two grandsons, Harper Wesley Smith of Florence and James Lawton Burriss (Ashley Burriss, mother) of Belton. He is survived by his brother Don Burriss (Kathy) of Laurens and Alice Pursley (Harry) of Abbeville, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Dr. B's family finds comfort in these words from I Timothy 4:7: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." The family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Dan (Trey) Blazer, III, surgical oncologist at Duke University Medical Center and Dr. Peter Jeffrey Bechtel, surgeon at AnMed Health, for their roles in helping Dr. B fight the good fight.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Belton Presbyterian Church, PO Box 601, Belton, SC 29627 or The Kappa Alpha Order Delta Epsilon Alumni Association, 1532 Harrington Street, Newberry, SC 29108.
Sullivan-King Mortuary
www.sullivanking.com