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Monday, March 16, 2015

Paul L. Burnley

Paul Lawrence Burnley died Wednesday, March 11 at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. He was born on May 7, 1925, in St Louis, Missouri, to the late Henry and Mable Burnley, the last of three children.

He was a humble, unassuming man with a quiet demeanor.

He received his early education in St. Louis and continued his formal education at Fayetteville Technical Community College and Fayetteville State University.  During World War II, he proudly served his country as an officer in the United States Navy.  While serving in the Navy, he served as port battalion from food to ammunition, and received numerous awards and citations in appreciation for his years of courage and dedication. He was honorably discharged from the Navy on December 13, 1945.

He had a passion for writing and pursued that talent as a career.  He worked for a host of newspapers in St Louis, New York, and Chicago. Upon his retirement to the Fayetteville area, he wrote for the Fayetteville Observer and The News Journal in Raeford.  He was author of two books, "A View from the Other Side" and "The Carribean Connection." 

He served on many advisory boards and groups.  He was one of the founding members of the Second Day Writers.

He was married to the love of his life, Flossie Wilson, for 62 years. They always sat a couple on Sunday morning during church services.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Flossie Wilson Burnley, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

The funeral will be held March 17 at Bridges Grove A.M.E. Zion Church , 251 Bridges Grove Church Road, Shannon. The burial will follow in the Sandhills Veteran Cemetery in Spring Lake on Wednesday, March 18.