Obituary of Jeffrey Lynn Burgess

Jeff Burgess, aged 61, died on September 24, 2023 of cardiac arrest at CMC Main Hospital in Charlotte, NC. Jeff was born on January 6, 1962 in Philadelphia, PA to Joan Goode Burgess. The family moved to Valdese, NC when Jeff was three years old and Jeff came to love living in a small town. Upon graduating from East Burke High School, Jeff attended the University of NC at Chapel Hill where he studied accounting. After graduation, he moved to Greensboro, NC accepting a job with Arthur Andersen, and following in his mother’s footsteps beginning a career in accounting. In 1986, Jeff met and fell in love with Carol Ransone. They married in 1990 and went on to have two wonderful children, Ellie and Frank. In 2002, Jeff joined Grant Thornton where he spent the remainder of his career as a beloved partner, mentor and leader. In 2011, Jeff was relocated to Charlotte, NC and Carol and Jeff quickly came to love their new home and community. He spent the last seven years of his career serving as the National Managing Partner for Audit, a role where he focused on quality and was able to mentor many. Mentoring others was both his greatest accomplishment and his lifelong passion. After 37 years in public accounting, Jeff decided to retire in 2021.

Post retirement, Jeff lived life to the fullest travelling, loving on his people, serving his community and cheering on his beloved Tar Heels. (A highlight was being in attendance to watch UNC beat Duke in the 2022 Final Four. Go, Heels!) During these years, Jeff and Carol split their time between Charlotte and Blowing Rock, both of which held a special place in his heart. But he was always most at home in the mountains as he was a mountain boy at heart!

Jeff was a devoted husband and adoring father. He loved nothing more than his wife Carol and the life they built together throughout their remarkable 33 year marriage. Jeff relished being involved in his children’s activities growing up – coaching sports teams, eating ice cream at Yum Yums and visiting Tweetsie Railroad to name a few. He enjoyed several trips with his son, Frank, to baseball stadiums, driving the Blue Ridge Parkway, visiting Las Vegas, playing golf, Carolina games and hunting down rare bottles of bourbon. His time with his daughter Ellie was highlighted by her years at Meredith College where he and Carol attended Corn Huskin’ and Senior Parent Night. Since her graduation Jeff loved supporting her in her career as an interior designer, even taking her to work in the morning before weekend trips. Jeff loved Ellie’s husband, Logan, as his own and their shared love of all things sports and UNC.

Jeff’s true love was his wife, Carol. They genuinely savored every minute together, travelling, poking fun at each other, finding joy in the mundane and being each other’s best friend. Their love was evident to anyone who came into contact with them!

Jeff also loved his community and served it well. Though too numerous to mention them all, some of his service roles included The Board of Alcohol and Drug Services in Greensboro, NC; the MS Society Board; the United Way Boards of Greensboro and Charlotte, NC; the Triad Stage Board; the Junior Achievement Boards of Greensboro and Charlotte, NC; and he held several leadership roles at Guilford College United Methodist Church in Greensboro, NC as well as at Myers Park United Methodist Church in Charlotte, NC.

Jeff is survived by his loving wife Carol Burgess of Charlotte, NC; daughter Ellie Hiers (Logan) of Charlotte, NC; son Frank Burgess of Aspen, CO; brother Bert Burgess of Hickory, NC; as well as numerous other cherished family members. Jeff was proceeded in death by his mother, Joan Goode Burgess; his grandparents Dorothy and Thomas Frank Goode, Sr.; his uncle Thomas Frank Goode, Jr.; and his aunt Jane Goode Hubbard. Jeff, in death as in life, continues to help others. As an organ donor, Jeff is giving life to others in need.

The family will receive friends from 10am to 11am on Friday, September 29, 2023, at Myers Park United Methodist Church, 1501 Queens Road, Charlotte, NC 28207, with a celebration of life service starting at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following:

United Way of Greater Charlotte

https://unitedwaygreaterclt.org/give/

Blessings in a Backpack (Starmount Academy in Charlotte, NC #1455)

https://www.blessingsinabackpack.org/ways-to-donate/one-time-donation/donate-to-a-specific-program/

Online condolences may be made at www.HankinsandWhittington.com.

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