1st Sgt. Michael E. Burks

By Staff
November 7, 2005
Funeral for 1st Sgt. Michael E. Burks, 45, of Decatur will be Thursday, Nov. 10, at 11 a.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church with the Rev. Rodney Bowling, Major Tim Maples, Major Bob Weakley and retired Sgt. 1st Class Elgin Guthrie officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. The body will be at the church one hour prior to the service. Sgt. Burks died Monday, Nov. 7, 2005, at his home. He was born Jan. 10, 1960, in Marshall County. He worked in maintenance at Copeland Corp. He attended Shiloh Baptist Church. Sgt. Burks enlisted in the Alabama Army National Guard on Jan. 14, 1977, with Company C 1st Battalion 167th (Mech) Infantry. He served with Company C until Sept. 17, 1999, in many different duty assignments. He was selected for promotion to sergeant and transferred to 2nd Battalion 200th Regiment as a training instructor effective Sept. 18, 1999, and served his duty position until May 1, 2004. He was selected for promotion to first sergeant and transferred to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 1st Battalion 167th (Mech) Infantry effective, May 2, 2004, and served in the position until his death.
He is survived by his wife, Susan Burks of Somerville; two daughters, Mindy Burks and Mandy Burks, both of Somerville; two stepsons, Shane Hartsfield of Decatur and Jeff Hartsfield of Auburn; one step-daughter, Lisa Hartsfield of Decatur; his parents, Howard and Algie Burks of Cotaco; three sisters, Sandra Burks Cross of Decatur, Deborah Burks Parker of Hartselle and Barbara Burks Jones of Union Hill; and two grandchildren, Philip Hartsfield and Oliver Hartsfield.
Pallbearers and military honors will be provided by members of the 1st Battalion 167th Infantry Division of the Alabama Army National Guard.
Honorary pallbearers will be Jimmy Burks, Steve Burks, Keith Cross, Chris Parker, Shane Hartsfield, Jeff Hartsfield, Steve Brinkerhoff and J. P. Jones.