Louise Burgess

Mrs. Louise Miller Burgess, age 90 of Jefferson passed away Friday, October 18, 2024 at Margate Health & Rehab Center. Louise was born July 17, 1934 in Ashe County to Worth and Ila Mae Miller. Louise was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Onley Burgess, brother, Charles Leonard Miller and sister, Rosa Lee Winebarger.  

Louise was a member of Fletcher Memorial Baptist Church where she and Onley attended and served for almost 70 years. Louise graduated from West Jefferson High School in 1952, after which she moved to Nashville, Tennessee and worked as a telephone operator. She moved back to Jefferson not long after to marry her sweetheart, Onley. Louise worked at Sprague, Southern Devices, etc., but her absolute favorite job, and what she is well known for was her tenure at Peoples Drug Store where she managed the Café for over 40 years and would become a staple of the community during breakfast and lunch. She was famous for her pies. She would retire from Peoples in 2014. 

Louise loved baseball and she and Onley visited practically every Major League Baseball field in the USA. She loved puzzles, cooking, Elvis and working in her yard and cutting grass. She loved her Sunday mornings when she could dress up and go to church to be with her church family. 

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 pm Sunday, October 27, 2024 at Fletcher Memorial Baptist Church by Pastor Paul Strickland and Rev. Dr. Michael Lea. Burial will follow in the Calloway Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2:00 pm until 3:00 pm prior to the service.  

Louise is survived by her son Gregory Keith Burgess and wife Joanne of Laurel Springs, and her daughter Carol Burgess Griffith and husband Archie. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.  

Memorials may be made to Fletcher Memorial Baptist Church, PO Box 65, Jefferson, NC 28640.