Robert Oscar Burress

Robert Oscar Burress (affectionately known as "Moon") was born on March 22, 1941 in Cincinnati, Ohio and died on February 7, 2024 in Huntsville, Alabama.  He was born to Malinda Burress and Oscar Cummings.  When he was about 8 years old, Robert, his brother and mother moved to Huntsville AL.   Due to his mother’s illness, Robert dropped out of school to help support his mother.  He had various jobs, bricklayer, construction work, and bartender. In 1975, he started working at the Von Braun Civic Center, which was due to his work ethic noticed by management while helping with the first convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses here in Huntsville.  He became a maintenance foreman at VBC until he retired.  At the time of the convention, Robert was studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses and he symbolized his dedication to Jehovah on December 30, 1978 in Bessemer, AL. 

When Robert was 13, he met the love of his life, Evelyn Sullivan. After courting for several years, they were married on August 8, 1960. They were parents to seven children.  

Robert is preceded in death by, his mother Malinda, his brother Henry (uncle Scoop Burress),  his wife of 55 years, Evelyn, and several children, Reginald, Roland, Jennifer, Carmala and Jody.

He is survived by, son Leland (Debra), son Brian Brandon, daughter KaToya, daughter-in-law Ida Burress.  Five grandchildren, Reginald Carlisle, Rebekah Henry (Charles), Beth Burress, Deondre Burress, Takia Lovell (Jordan) and one great granddaughter, Mahliyah Burress,

A sister, Gwen Coby, and numerous nieces and nephews, sisters-in-law and brother-in-law and spouses, in addition to many cousins, and hundreds of spiritual brothers and sisters.

Robert, being one of Jehovah's Witnesses, loved witnessing to people, whether the insurance man who came by the house, or any others that he met. He wanted to help them appreciate the hope we have for the future when God's Kingdom will make the earth the paradise it was meant to be, his dead loved ones resurrected to life on the earth and sickness and suffering gone forever. By the way, the insurance man did become our spiritual brother! As his health declined, Robert enjoyed tying in to the Zoom meetings for service and doing much phone witnessing to old friends he grew up with and family members and neighbors.  The week before he died, while tied into his meeting via Zoom, he attempted to raise his hand when questions were asked. Though he couldn't speak, he still wanted to participate however he could! This is a small snapshot of a life that touched so many during his 82 years. We will miss him dearly!

A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 2:00 pm CST at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 16121 Chaney Thompson Rd SE, Huntsville, AL 35803

For those not able to attend the memorial in person, you can view it online. Go to zoom.us on your computer or mobile device, tap "Join" or "Join a meeting" and use the following info to tie in:

For Zoom tie in:

Meeting ID

4516863421

Password

2082115

Dial in number

301-715-8592