Clarence Steadman Burgess

Steadman Burgess, age 96 of Decatur, GA, passed away on Tuesday 1/6/15 after a brief illness. His wife of 59 years, Wilma Backstrom Burgess and his niece, Debra Hicks of Macon, predeceased him. He was born in Atlanta, the son of C.S. Burgess, Sr., and Estelle Brown Burgess. He graduated from Boys High in 1936 and Emory University in 1940 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He joined the U.S. army in 1942 and served in WWII as a captain in the Signal Corps, working with radar equipment.

After the war, Steadman and his father formed the Burgess Toy Sales Co. where he worked until 1965. He then became co-owner of Southern Stamp and Stencil Co. until his retirement in 1983.

Steadman was a lifelong member of Druid Hills Baptist Church where he served as Chairman of the Board of Deacons and taught Sunday School in the Junior Department for many years. He was also a long-time member of the Four Square Class. Steadman served as President of the Decatur Lions Club.

Steadman was diverse, innovative and always adventurous. He was an Eagle Scout and attended many jamborees in the U.S. and abroad. At age 17 he and 3 friends built a boat and navigated rivers and the Inter Coastal Waterway from Macon, GA to Daytona FL. He has owned a lake cabin since he was 18 years old and loved boating, fishing and teaching people to ski. After retirement he and his wife, Wilma, enjoyed traveling the world and camping in their RV.

Steadman was a loving husband and father. He was a kind and generous man who kept his sense of humor and desire for independence until the end of his life. He was very grateful for his caregivers. He was dearly loved and will be missed by all who knew him.

Steadman is survived by his daughters, Carol Burgess of Decatur and Anne Burgess McClearn (Mike) of Lilburn; two grandchildren, Natalie McClearn of Richmond, VA and Kevin McClearn of Nashville, TN; one sister, Beverly Burgess Meadors (Mort) of Macon; a nephew, Dr. Walter Lynn Hicks of St. Simons Island; a niece, Tamsen DeLong (Dennis) of Augusta; and a great nephew, Lt. David Schoffitt (Jennifer) of Owego, NY.

Steadman was cremated. A memorial service will be held at Druid Hills Baptist Church at 2 pm on Saturday, 3/14/15. Visitation is at 1 pm in the parlor. Parking at DHBC is limited (recommended for those with mobility issues). Parking is also available at Druid Hills Methodist Church, 1200 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, at the corner of Briarcliff Rd. The internment will be at the Decatur Cemetery following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Oakhurst Recovery Program or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.




Funeral Home:
A.S. Turner
2773 N. Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033