William Addison Burris II, "Add II", of McComb, passed away on June 3, 2025, at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born on December 19, 1950, in Franklinton, LA to William Addison, "Add" and Margie Ann Burris.
Add II, as he was commonly known, was a 1969 graduate of Franklinton High School, where he was voted Most Handsome. He went on to graduate from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1976, the same year he married the love of his life, Patricia Diane Parker, as he always told the story, it was only after she asked him to marry her three months into their relationship.
Growing up in Franklinton he was very well known and loved by all that knew him. He loved to entertain you with his stories of the wild days and nights he had growing up in Franklinton while being Margie Ann's son (IYKYK.) He could entertain you for hours with his hilarious and almost unbelievable stories of he and his friends' adventures. Add II was a natural athlete and dare devil. He loved to swim and was known for his high dives in the city pool. He was a member of the rugby team at Southeastern during his college days. He loved riding bulls and rode his last bull at the Washington Parish Fair in 1978.
Add II was a man of faith first. He started each day by reading the Bible, and if you came to him with a tough question, he would say "You can always find your answer by reading God's word."
He was charming, charismatic, and honest-sometimes too honest. He always believed in calling a "spade a spade," and you always knew where you stood with him. He was proud of his family and never was embarrassed to show his love for them. If he loved you, he made sure you and everyone around knew it. He spoke about his grandchildren with great pride; you could almost see him poking his chest out while telling you a story about any of the five of them.
His love of the logging profession began when he was employed by Winfred Bateman Logging of Clinton, LA. He later formed his own business, Burris Short Woods, then Burris Logging, after they moved to McComb in 1986 to spend more time with his family.
After living in the Edgewood subdivision where he and his family made many lifelong friends and great memories, he purchased land and built a home on what became Burris Lane. On Burris Lane he continued to work, raise and ride horses, especially his beloved horse "Baby Girl," and taught lots of life lessons to his grandchildren in his retirement years. He never lost his love for all God's creations in the woods, you would find him trail riding on Baby Girl with his grandchildren taking nature in and just making memories, and often you could find him propped against a tree in the woods listening to his "pet" turkeys, which he loved to watch. On weekends if he was not with Pat or the grandchildren at a rodeo, you knew he slipped away with friends for a road trip to a swap meet for his race car parts or making a fast pass or two on a drag racing track his in car "The Buzzard", the fastest buzzard on this side of the Mississippi River. His last pass on the racetrack was in October 2020 at the Atmore Dragway in Alabama.
Add II was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2017 on June 3rd, also his death date, and while waging a valiant effort over the past eight years, there were simply too many complications to overcome.
He is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Patricia (Pat), a sister, Armetha "Ann" Warner of Warnerton, a brother, Ben Burris (Sandra) of Covington, two sons, Will Burris (Christy) of Franklinton, and Nathan Burris (Samantha) of McComb, and a daughter Anita Fenn (Max) of Smithdale. He held his five grandchildren close to his heart - Addison Burris, Peyton Burris, Emma Ann Fenn, James Max Fenn, and Leighton Burris, two nephews, John Benton Warner of Fairhope, Robbie Burris of Ponchatoula, and two nieces Anna Waldrop of Ponchatoula and Sarah Mikel Burris Talbot of New Orleans and a host of great nieces and nephews. He also had two cousins who were both like brothers, Benny Burke Burris (Tanna) and Jessie Burris (Renee) both of Franklinton.
He had many friends, several that held a special place in his heart and were always a part of his wild adventures, Ray Magee (Baton Rouge,) Dale Miller (Baton Rouge,) Dalton Alford (Loranger,) Stewart Robison (Houma,) Shane Deere (Summit,) Kerry Deere (Summit,) and the late Sam Mims (McComb,) his next door neighbor of 17 years who would always shake his head and laugh at Add II's adventures.
Per his wishes, there will be no funeral service, simply a private family ceremony.
In Lieu of flowers, please plant a tree in his memory, although we must ask, please do not donate to any owl conservations against loggers…
The family would like to thank Deaconess Home Health and Hospice's entire staff for the amazing and loving care Add II received during the last eight months
