Dr. G. R. Burgess, widely know local physician, died at the John Hopkins hospital in Baltimore earlly last Thursday morning, following an illness extending over several months. The body was returned to Wayne for burial last Saturday. The services were in charge of Rev. Jenkins of Huntington, Rev. Switzer of Huntington, amd Rev. Beale, pastor of the Wayne M. E. church, of which the deceased was a member. The funeral services were attended by hundreds of people from this and adjoining counties. Interment was made in Elmwood cemetery.
Dr. Burgess was a member of a prominent Boyd County, Kentucky family, but he came to Wayne County to live shortly after his graduation from the Louisville Medical college. He practiced here for forty years and was personally known to most of the people in the county. Dr. Burgess was a successful farmer and business man and was one of the organizers of the Wayne County Bank, of which he was a director.
The deceased was twice married. His first wife was Miss Clara Ferguson, daughter of the late "Uncle Charley" Ferguson, who was the mother of the five surviving children: Mrs. J. H. Meck and Basil Burgess of Huntington; Misses Ruby and Marrjorie Burgess of Wayne; and Mrs. Norman Curry of Catlettsburg. Dr. Burgess' second marriage was to Miss Letha Ketchum, of Westmoreland, who survives. Mrs. Burgess was at his bedside throughout his final illness. Dr. Burgess leaves the following brothers and sisters:
Mrs. D. S. Martin, of Catlettsburg; Mrs. Amelia Powell and Mrs. Kate Stoughton of Huntington; Mrs. T. B. McClure, of Wayne; John B. Burgess, of Ardel and Dr. Will Burgess of Catlettsburg. The late Judge G. G. Burgess of Wayne was also a brother.
Transcription by June White