Ronald Burkett was born on November 16, 1952 in Appling
County to the late Rudolph and Alfreida Burkett. He
attended Appling County Consolidated High School and
Fort Valley State College. He was united in marriage to
Jacqulyn Marie Smith for 44 years. To this union, two
daughters were born.

Ronald was a faithful member of Surrency Grove Baptist
Church where he was a deacon and played the bass guitar.
He was very supportive of his community as a leader,
encourager, and role model. After church he was often seen
visiting the nursing homes. Ronald was a former City
Councilman and Mayor Pro-Tem of the City of Surrency.
He was a trustee for Altamaha Technical College
Foundation Board and a mentor for the prestigious 100
Black Men of America. Mr. Burkett was a former Advisory
Council Board Member of the Appling County High School
Vocational Technical and served on the Work Force
Investment Board and the Heart of Georgia Regional
Commission. He was a member of the Appling General
Hospital Board of Directors and also on the Appling County
Chamber Commerce of which he was selected Citizen of the
Year in 2016. He passionately served as chairman of the
Appling County unit of the National Boys & Girls Club until
his health forced him to relinquish his duties.
Ronald was the owner and President of Southern Metal
Works Inc., a company that he single handedly started from
the ground up and managed for the past 18 years. He had a
busy schedule of work, family, community, and civic duties
but still managed to find time for himself. In his spare time
he loved playing golf, watching football, and spending time
with his family.

He leaves to mourn a devoted wife, Jacqulyn Burkett; two
daughters: Danita (Jamie) Hayes (Baxley, GA) and Kenya
(Phillip) Hamilton (Warner Robins, GA); three
grandchildren: Briana Hayes, Ryan Hayes, and Myles
Hamilton; one sister, Patricia Collins; two brothers: Jeno
(Sheryl) Burkett and Keith (Linda) Burkett; two godsons,
Kasey Rogers and Josh Hayes and a host of aunts, uncles,
nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation

Thursday, November 23, 2017
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Surrency Grove Baptist Church
410 Burkett Street
Surrency, GA 31563

Funeral Service

Friday, November 24, 2017
1:00 PM

First African Baptist Baptist Church
154 N Comas Street
Baxley, GA 31513