Normandy High School Alumni
St. Louis, Missouri (MO)
DERRY LEE BURNS SR Obituary (1960 - 2025)
Born Aug 05, 1960, DERRY LEE BURNS SR attended Normandy High School in St. Louis, MO. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Derry Lee Burns Sr.
| Graduation Year | Class of 1978 |
| Date of Birth | Aug 05, 1960 |
| Date of Passing | Aug 23, 2025 |
| About | MEMOALIZING MR. DERRY LEE BURNS SR A person wearing a hat AI-generated content may be incorrect. August 5th, 1960 – August 23rd, 2025 William C. Harris Funeral Directors Spanish Lake Chapel 1645 Redman Avenue Spanish Lake Missouri 63138 Public Viewing Thursday September 4th, 2025 2:00pm – 4:00pm THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND John 11:25-26 Jesus says, “Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Derry was born in Sunflower MS on Friday August 5th, 1960, to Ja and Mattie Pearl Burns. He was the fourth child of eight born in this union. His parents, two siblings Keith and Elsie. Both his paternal and maternal grandparents all proceeded him in crossing the River Jordan into eternity. He joined them on Saturday August 23,2025 quietly in his home. He is now at peace, no more pain and suffering as his Savior had promised him. Although he was born in Mississippi, he would leave Sunflower and in 1961 the family would relocated to St. Louis Mo. Where he attended the St. Louis Public School System until the death of his mother, which he considered his first heartbreak The family then moved in 1971 to the community of Pine Lawn MO during the era of transition of middle class African American families from St. Louis City to St. Louis County. It was there that he began attending the Normandy School District. The pain of his mother’s passing had a deep and life-changing effect on him as he navigated through his teen and young adult years. In 1972 he met a host of good friends, and they came together and became the Cooley High Gang, a group of teenagers with a strong bond that saw them through the prejudices our nation was experiencing. They supported each other through good times and bad as they struggled to enjoy their childhood in perilous times. During the eighties he faced many trials and tribulations, but he did not let that stop him from having success. In eighty-nine’ he gave his life to Christ and accepted him as his Lord and Savior and started on the path of righteousness and followed it to the best of his human ability. He started a landscaping company and was a supervisor for a construction company, he then went back into the community where he had grown up and gave jobs to people to broadcast their skills and give them the hope he had found in Christ. The Birth of his children Samantha Outlaw and Derry Burns Jr was the true testament of God shining in his life. After his son was born he met and married his soulmate Mary, the birth of his son and namesake and his new marriage inspired him to go back to school and earn a AAS Degree in Human Services at STLCC Florissant Valley, He joined several campus organizations, Trio, Youth in Need and the Fathers Support Group. Derry also attended Vatterott College, UMSL University earning a BS in Human Services, Watterson College earning a license in Security. Derry dedicated his life to raising and molding his son into being the man he is today. He inherited a family of Stepchildren and God Children, whom he loved and nurtured as his own. He became a grandfather by way of his son and shared a special bond with his granddaughter whom he lovingly called Tinky, she was truly the apple of his eye, Derry was large in statue, with a very humble disposition and heart as large as the skies above, He never met a stranger and was easy to talk to, he knew when to listen and when to speak. Always ready to lend a hand to anyone in any way he could. He cherished his family first and had close friendships that had lasted from his childhood days. The memories created over his life’s journey will now live in the hearts and minds of those he loved and cherished: His son Derry Jr, his daughter Samantha, and his Grandchildren: Zariah (Tink). Kevion, Alexandria, Sean, Matthias, and Micah Siblings: Rodgers (Sylvia) Burns, Jeanette Burns, Peggy Burns, Margaret Burns, Willie Burns, Angela Burns, Mario Burns, Teresa Doyle, and Trina Ellis A childhood friend whom he called his sister-for-life Angele’ McGee and her daughter Lakisha Isaac and a host of other relatives and friends. Back cover Acknowledgements We the family of Mr. Derry Lee Burns Wish express our heartfelt thanks for your calls,cards, texts and many acts of kindness during this our time of grief. A person sitting at a table AI-generated content may be incorrect. We entrusted our loved one to the William C. Harris Funeral Directors 1645 Redman Avenue Spanish Lake Missouri 63138 |
| Events | MEMOALIZING MR. DERRY LEE BURNS SR A person wearing a hat AI-generated content may be incorrect. August 5th, 1960 – August 23rd, 2025 William C. Harris Funeral Directors Spanish Lake Chapel 1645 Redman Avenue Spanish Lake Missouri 63138 Public Viewing Thursday September 4th, 2025 2:00pm – 4:00pm THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND John 11:25-26 Jesus says, “Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Derry was born in Sunflower MS on Friday August 5th, 1960, to Ja and Mattie Pearl Burns. He was the fourth child of eight born in this union. His parents, two siblings Keith and Elsie. Both his paternal and maternal grandparents all proceeded him in crossing the River Jordan into eternity. He joined them on Saturday August 23,2025 quietly in his home. He is now at peace, no more pain and suffering as his Savior had promised him. Although he was born in Mississippi, he would leave Sunflower and in 1961 the family would relocated to St. Louis Mo. Where he attended the St. Louis Public School System until the death of his mother, which he considered his first heartbreak The family then moved in 1971 to the community of Pine Lawn MO during the era of transition of middle class African American families from St. Louis City to St. Louis County. It was there that he began attending the Normandy School District. The pain of his mother’s passing had a deep and life-changing effect on him as he navigated through his teen and young adult years. In 1972 he met a host of good friends, and they came together and became the Cooley High Gang, a group of teenagers with a strong bond that saw them through the prejudices our nation was experiencing. They supported each other through good times and bad as they struggled to enjoy their childhood in perilous times. During the eighties he faced many trials and tribulations, but he did not let that stop him from having success. In eighty-nine’ he gave his life to Christ and accepted him as his Lord and Savior and started on the path of righteousness and followed it to the best of his human ability. He started a landscaping company and was a supervisor for a construction company, he then went back into the community where he had grown up and gave jobs to people to broadcast their skills and give them the hope he had found in Christ. The Birth of his children Samantha Outlaw and Derry Burns Jr was the true testament of God shining in his life. After his son was born he met and married his soulmate Mary, the birth of his son and namesake and his new marriage inspired him to go back to school and earn a AAS Degree in Human Services at STLCC Florissant Valley, He joined several campus organizations, Trio, Youth in Need and the Fathers Support Group. Derry also attended Vatterott College, UMSL University earning a BS in Human Services, Watterson College earning a license in Security. Derry dedicated his life to raising and molding his son into being the man he is today. He inherited a family of Stepchildren and God Children, whom he loved and nurtured as his own. He became a grandfather by way of his son and shared a special bond with his granddaughter whom he lovingly called Tinky, she was truly the apple of his eye, Derry was large in statue, with a very humble disposition and heart as large as the skies above, He never met a stranger and was easy to talk to, he knew when to listen and when to speak. Always ready to lend a hand to anyone in any way he could. He cherished his family first and had close friendships that had lasted from his childhood days. The memories created over his life’s journey will now live in the hearts and minds of those he loved and cherished: His son Derry Jr, his daughter Samantha, and his Grandchildren: Zariah (Tink). Kevion, Alexandria, Sean, Matthias, and Micah Siblings: Rodgers (Sylvia) Burns, Jeanette Burns, Peggy Burns, Margaret Burns, Willie Burns, Angela Burns, Mario Burns, Teresa Doyle, and Trina Ellis A childhood friend whom he called his sister-for-life Angele’ McGee and her daughter Lakisha Isaac and a host of other relatives and friends. Back cover Acknowledgements We the family of Mr. Derry Lee Burns Wish express our heartfelt thanks for your calls,cards, texts and many acts of kindness during this our time of grief. A person sitting at a table AI-generated content may be incorrect. We entrusted our loved one to the William C. Harris Funeral Directors 1645 Redman Avenue Spanish Lake Missouri 63138 |
Angele Isaac '78 posted a photo:
S.I.P. MY DEAR FRIEND/BROTHER YOU ARE TRULY MISSED
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