Dr. Edgar H. Burks, Jr., a retired pastor and missionary, passed away,
Friday morning, March 4, 2016 in the Missouri Baptist Home Ozark, Mo.

Dr. Burks was the son of Edgar H. Burks, Sr. and Mary (Mouck) Burks of Pineville, Missouri. He became a Christian at the age of twelve and was baptized into the fellowship of First Baptist Church, Pineville. He was licensed and ordained to the Gospel ministry by the Pineville church in 1941.

Edgar and Linnie Jane Joslin were united in marriage on March 24, 1940. To this union one daughter, Alice Anne was born. Together they were privileged to share 72 years. Linnie Jane preceded him on March 14, 2012. Also preceding him where his parents.

Edgar graduated from Pineville High School, Southwest Baptist College, Bolivar, Baylor University, Waco, Texas and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

He served as pastor of Baptist churches in Noel, Splitlog (Goodman), Cabool and Ash Grove in Missouri as well as churches in Texas and Kentucky. The Burks were appointed as missionaries of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board for work in Nigeria, West Africa, serving there for thirty years.

The Burks were assigned to teach in the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomosho. In addition to teaching duties at the Seminary, Edgar also served in the Missionary-Advisor (Director of Missions) to the Igbomina Baptist Association, 90 miles north of Ogbomosho. Most week-ends were spent among the villages there, encouraging churches and helping plant new churches.

In 1965, Edgar was elected the Executive Secretary of the Baptist Mission of Nigeria and they moved to Ibadan, where offices for the Baptist Mission and Nigerian Baptist Conventions were located. In addition, he also served as Director of City Missions and advisor to churches in the area.

In 1976, Edgar asked to be transferred back to the Seminary and again picked up the teaching ministry and office of Vice-Principal. His great joy through the thirty years in Nigeria was to see his students grow into capable pastor, church and convention leaders.

After retiring from the mission field in 1986, Edgar served on the staff of First Baptist Church, Springfield as Assistant to the Pastor, Interim Pastor and Bible Teacher.

He is survived by his daughter, Alice Anne Burks, Jefferson City, Missouri.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday morning, March 10, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary of the First Baptist Church, Springfield 535 South Ave, Springfield, Mo. with Dr. Michael Overton and Rev. Tommy Harper officiating. Private interment will be in Pineville, Mo. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Wilson Brim Daniel Funeral Home, Ash Grove, Mo.

The family will receive friends on Thursday morning from 9:30 a.m.
until service in the sanctuary.

Memorials in his memory may be given to The Baptist Home, Ozark, Mo.