Chris Burke

Mr. Christopher Lee Burke, known by all as “Chris”, age 64, of Hampton Street in Walterboro, entered into rest Wednesday morning, November 13, 2019, at the Colleton Medical Center in Walterboro. 

Born March 29, 1955, in Millen, Georgia, he was a son of Mrs. Iris Taylor Burke and the late Mr. Ernest R. Burke who made Walterboro their home when Chris was eleven months old.  He was trained in Electrical Engineering, having received a degree from Trident Technical College, but his passion and where he possessed a most extraordinary talent was with boat motors.  He received a Master Technician degree as a Marine Mechanic from OMC which is the parent company for Johnson-Evinrude Motors.  He worked a long and dedicated career eventually opening and operating Burke’s Marine and Hot Rod Services in Walterboro.  

Another of Chris’ passions in life was hotrods.  His love was a 1965 red El Camino which he dreamed to see fitted for drag racing, having completely rebuilt all the parts for the vehicle himself.  He took everyone he knew for a ride in that car. 

He enjoyed the outdoors and was a member and the treasurer of the Deep Bottom Hunting Club.  He was a Christian man who had a love for all animals on this earth.  He lived life on his own terms and his trademark shoes were his flip flops.   A greater part of his life was his family, ending each and everyday with a telephone call to his Momma.   

Surviving in addition to his mother of Walterboro are: his wife of forty-four years, Mrs. Annette Whetzel Burke; two daughters, Jennifer Burke Pearce and her husband Andy of Walterboro and Laura Burke Jeffords and her husband Paul of Saint Petersburg, Florida; a sister, Lisa Burke Carter and her husband Don of Manning; and four grandchildren whom he adored being their “Grandy”, Anderson Pearce, Ella Pearce, Trae Jeffords, and Adi Jeffords.  He is also survived by three sisters-in-law, Kay Whetzel Herndon and her husband Royce, Linda Whetzel Breland and her husband Rickey, and Pamela Whetzel as well as his beloved Labrador, Led.     He was preceded in death by a brother, Phillip Burke; and three beloved dogs, Tabalabs Led Van Zeplin, Bella, and Emme. 

The family has requested no flowers, that instead a donation be made in his memory to help support animals which he so dearly loved.  Please send memorial contributions in his memory to: Friends of Colleton County Animal Shelter, 33 Poor Farm Road, Walterboro, South Carolina 29488. 

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon, November 16, 2019, from The Brice W. Herndon and Sons Funeral Chapel, Walterboro.   The Reverend Ken McCaskill and The Reverend Dr. Zane Brown officiating.  The family will receive friends during a visitation following the funeral ceremony. 

Arrangements by:   THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOMES AND CREMATORY, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro, 843.538.5408.  Visit the registry online at: www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com.

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