Obituary: Tom Burns

Thomas “Tom” Esse Burns, 72, of Greer, died Oct. 31, 2022.

A native of Greenville, he served in the U.S. Navy and later graduated from the University of South Carolina and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served in various churches in South Carolina, Texas, Georgia, and North Carolina in such capacities as youth pastor, minister of music and minister to senior adults, and retired as worship pastor and administrator of Fairview Baptist Church, Greer, in 2017 after serving there for 28 years. He fulfilled a lifelong dream by being an adjunct professor at North Greenville University for 12 years.

Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Joyce Lee Burns, two children and four grandchildren.