Phillip Burke

Biography

Mr. Phillip S. Burke, affectionately known by everyone as "Phil", age 54, of Windermere Lane, Walterboro, entered into his eternal rest Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at his residence.

A service celebrating his life and honoring his memory will be conducted at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon, June 18, 2011, from The Brice W. Herndon and Sons Funeral Chapel, Walterboro. The family has requested that the members of Deep Bottom Hunt Club serve as honorary escorts and their presence would be required at The Funeral Chapel at 1:30 that afternoon.

Following the funeral ceremony the family will receive friends in the Harbiston Stateroom of the funeral home until 4 o'clock that afternoon. The family will be at the residence of his mother, Mrs. Iris Burke, 965 Dandridge Road, Walterboro.

In lieu of flowers, the family has respectfully requested that memorial contributions be directed in his memory to: Colleton County Animal Shelter, 33 Poor Farm Road, Walterboro, South Carolina 29488; or to any organization for the benefit of animals.

Phil was born May 2, 1957, in Walterboro and was a son of Mrs. Iris Taylor Burke and the late Mr. Ernest R. Burke. He was a lifelong member of Edgewood Baptist Church in Walterboro. He was a graduate of Walterboro High School Class of 1975 and then continued his education at Trident Technical College where he graduated with an Associates Degree in Commercial Graphics in 1978. Best described as a "Jack of All Trades and a Master of None". He worked at the car dealership his late father owned and operated for twenty-three years, working faithfully beside him until his death in 2006.

Phil enjoyed life and loved the outdoors. He was a member and currently served as Treasure of the Deep Bottom Hunt Club. In his teenage years, he was heavily involved in Motor Cross Racing, having received trophies for his racing achievements and victories. Also, in his earlier years, he was a part of the first year in which the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts combined to make the co-ed explorers. He was an avid fisherman, loving every type of fishing possible from the local creeks of Colleton County to the offshore excursions he often was a part of with his brother. Another pastime in his life was scuba diving, which involved his membership in the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. There are many things of Phil's life that will be forever cherished in the hearts of those that knew and loved him; whether it was the many BBQ cookouts that he hosted, the friendship that he lovingly gave to others, his devotion to his family, or the many lives he touched in his daily walk of life.

Surviving in addition to his mother of Walterboro are: his wife and constant companion of twenty-eight years, Mrs. Karen Parker Burke; a brother, Chris L. Burke and his wife Annette of Walterboro; a sister, Lisa Burke Carter and her husband Don of Chapin; his mother-in-law, Halayne Evans Parker Day of Bonneau Beach; and his "Children" which were his two Labradors, Sophie and Samantha and his pit-lab, Trouble. While he had no children of his own, outside of his beloved dogs, there were many whom he and Karen consider as their own, and many who looked upon him as a father; along with those, there are many nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews as well as a host of wonderful friends that also survive.