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| Carol "Papa" Burr |
Born in Anson County, North Carolina, he was a son of the late Hamer Lee and Pearl Watkins Burr. After graduating from Ansonville High School, Carol attended mortuary school before joining the United States Air Force. He retired after 20 years of service to his country. During his service, Carol was awarded a Bronze Star, an Air Force Commendation Medal, an Organizational Excellence Award, an Air Force Good Conduct Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, a Vietnam Service Medal, a Longevity Service Award, an NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon, a Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, a Vietnam Campaign Medal, and a Meritorious Service Medal.
In addition to his many military accomplishments, Carol became a licensed contractor and a licensed real estate broker. He was a Shriner, member of the Sumter Jamil Temple Shrine Club and a Master Mason, member of the Spring Hill Lodge. Carol also served on Sumter County Council for 12 years and was a past president of the Sumter County Republican Party. Carol was a member of Alice Drive Baptist Church for 30 years.
The accomplishment he was most proud of began after basic training in 1953, when he married Loretta Helms. Carol and Loretta were wed in a double ceremony with Carol's twin brother Harold and Harold's wife, Tonie. In the following years, he would become the proud father of three children and proud "Papa" of five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Carol is survived by his wife of 61 years, Loretta Burr; sons, Michael Carol Burr (Rhonda) and Robert Wayne Burr (Fonn); and daughter, Katherine Lee Burr Sydow (Mike). He is also survived by five grandchildren, Mandy Burr Ashley (Nick), Jessica Burr Lea (Jamie), Trenton Wayne Burr (Ashley), Caroline Elizabeth Sydow and Katherine Morgan Sydow; and six great-grandchildren, Collen Michelle Ashley, Aislin Fonn Lea, Caleb Whitner Ashley, Lauren James Lea, Ella Kay Burr and Evienne Reese Lea. He is survived by his twin brother, Harold Burr (Tonie); his brother, Hugh Watkins; his sister, Jo Alexander (Allen); and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his sisters, Nancy Louise Burr, Alma Watkins Webb and Ruth Watkins Gray; two brothers, John T. Watkins and William H. Watkins; and his cherished daughter-in-law, Rhonda Posey Burr.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday at Alice Drive Baptist Church with Dr. Clay Smith and the Rev. Jock Hendricks officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Rickey Adcock, Joshua Burr, Landon Burr, Chandler Joyner, Dean Burr, Marty Atkinson, Richard Deese, Gerald Phillips and Chuck Bowers.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the men's Sunday school class of Alice Drive Baptist Church.
Memorials may be made to Alice Drive Baptist Church, 1305 Loring Mill Road, Sumter, SC 29150 or to the Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675. (www.woundedwarriorproject.org).
Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements. www.ecsfuneralhome.com
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