Eugene Edmund Burke Jr. (“Gene”), age 84, of Concord, N.C., went home to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on May 16, 2026.
A native of his beloved low-country South Carolina, Gene was born on November 8, 1941, to Eugene E. Burke Sr. and Bernice (née Youmans). He spent most of his formative years in Hampton County, growing up in the train depots of the C&WC railroad, a branch of the Atlantic Coast Line, for which both his parents served as agents. This setting birthed his lifelong avid love of all things having to do with trains, especially steam engines.
A graduate of Beaufort High School, Gene attended The Citadel, where he proudly served in F Company as a member of the Class of 1963, and he married Linda Dougherty later that same year. He then spent ten years as a pharmaceutical salesman before leaving his secular career to follow a calling to pastoral ministry.
After receiving an MDiv from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1977, Gene’s ministry spanned more than four decades in churches across Texas, Florida, the Carolinas, and Ohio. In that time he impacted countless lives with his deep love for the Lord and the Scriptures, and that legacy lives on as those who lived under his influence pass along the faith to others.
Gene is survived by his wife of 63 years, Linda, for whom he had unending and devoted adoration; and by his children, Christina Miller (David) and Patrick Burke (Rebecca); his grandchildren Jeremy Miller (Ashley), Judith Cantwell (Tom), Grace Cline (Austin), Aaron Miller, Caleb Burke (Lauren), Noah Burke, Logan Miller (Nicole), Nathan Miller (Kelsey), and his “bonus” grandchildren Hayley Langley, Amari Langley, and Jeffrey Langley (Lucy). 19 great-grandchildren are blessed to have this man of God in their family heritage. He is also survived by his sister, Gerry B. Woods; sister-in-law, Mary Lillian Thompson; and nieces, Deann Tate and Mary Elizabeth Thompson-Meyer.
As a faithful servant of the Lord Jesus, Gene fought the good fight and kept the faith, so even though he leaves a hole behind him, his family and friends do not sorrow as those who have no hope. As they enter this new stage of life without him, Gene’s example is their inspiration.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Parkwood Baptist Church (in the Family Ministry Center) in Concord, NC officiated by Rev. Michael Waters and Rev. Bill Nix. The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM with the funeral service immediately following at 11:00 AM. A graveside service will be observed on Friday, May 22, 2026, at 12:00 PM at Beaufort Memorial Gardens in Beaufort, SC.