Freestone County, Texas Obituaries The Mexia News - Saturday, March 28, 2015 Charles H. Burks Funeral services for Charles H. Burks will be held Saturday, March 28, at 1 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 203 N. Canton St. in Mexia. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, March 27, at Pearly Gates Funeral Home, then from 6 to 8 p.m. the same day at Beulah Baptist Church, 814 MLK Ave. in Wortham. Eulogist will be Pastor Eben Conner. Charles H. Burks was born to Cora and Elijah Burks on April 22, 1927, in Wortham. He went home to be with the Lord on March 15, 2015. He accepted Christ at an early age at Beulah Baptist Church in Wortham, and was a longtime member of New Hope Baptist Church in Sacramento, Calif., where he served on the trustee board. As a young boy he believed in working hard. He understood at an early age that “if you don’t work hard, you don’t eat.” During his younger years he answered the call to duty and served several years in the U.S. Army. His service included World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars. He retired from the Army as a Sergeant 1st class at Sacramento Army Depot, as senior manager in the Quality Assurance Directorate. He enjoyed spending time with family and friend and loved sports, especially his team, the Dallas Cowboys, and quiet as kept, he was a strong Oakland Raider fan. He was very civic-minded and believed in giving back to his community. He was Little League and PTA president, and was a lifetime member of the NAACP, as well as a member of the Omega Gents Mens Club in Sacramento, California. A while after retirement he returned to his childhood home in Texas. He was preceded in death by his son, Lester Riley. His memory will forever be cherished by his family. He is survived by Alice Burks, the mother of his children; son, Olvin Dru (Kathy) Burks; daughters, LaVonne Burks, Patricia Burks and Lessie (Reginald) Williams, all of Sacramento; close friend, Anita Kay Peoples; godson, DeAndray Williams; grandchildren, Darian (Yolanda) Riley, Olvin Dru Burks Jr., Yvonne (Jerome) Chapple-Stevenson, Chas Riley, Ian Howerton, Danielle Williams and Tyhrena Howerton; a host of great-grandchildren and nephews; Sidell (Myrna) Winn Jr.; good friend, Lillian D. Perry, and family and friends.