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David Pressley Burns, 82, beloved husband of Pat McCoy Burns, went to be with the Lord on July 29, 2017, at Palmetto Health Tuomey.

Born November 24, 1934, in Clarendon County, he was the son of the late James Flovia Burns and Corrina Morris Burns. After graduating from Edmunds High School, David joined the Sumter County Sheriff’s office as a dispatcher. He left there to join the FBI in Washington, DC. A short while later, he enlisted in the US Army where he was recruited into the Defense Attaché. That led him to work in the American Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, Cairo, Egypt, Vienna, Austria and Tehran, Iran. After retiring in 1976, he went to work for The South Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance Company. He won the South Carolina Agent of the Year award in 1986, highlighting his 18-year career. He retired as the Agency Manager for Sumter County in 1995. Present and past affiliations included the Civitan Club, the 4-H Council, Manville Masonic Lodge #104, Board of Directors of the Samaritan House, The Friendship Men’s Club, Oswego Hunting Club and the American Legion Post 15. He was a long-time member of Bethel United Methodist Church where he served his Lord in various capacities.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, sons Christopher David Burns (Nan) of North Augusta and Scott Jeffrey Burns of Columbia; granddaughter Kayla Stewart Burns of Greenville and grandson Jacob Thomas Burns at Clemson University; sisters Burnell Wood and Margaret Johnson of Sumter; and brothers Robert Burns of Florence, Eugene Burns (Rosemarie) and Charles Burns of Sumter, and sister-in- law Marie Burns of Oswego.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Evelyn Lybrand and Olene Brown, and brother Alvin Burns. Also, four brothers-in-law, two sisters-in-law and infant grandson Matthew David Burns.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, August 1st, at Bethel United Methodist Church in Oswego. The Reverend Jeremy Howell will be officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A reception for all friends and family will immediately follow in the Family Life Center.

Pallbearers will be Ronnie Burns, Tony Burns, Mitchell Johnson, Jimmy Johnson, Wayne Lybrand and O’Neil McCoy.

Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the John Edens Bible Class, Jack Reyling, John Edward Outlaw and David Floyd.


The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter.

Memorials may be made to Bethel United Methodist Church, 5575 Lodebar Road, Sumter.

Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.

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