I noticed I have been getting a lot of people coming to my blog looking for information about Mack Burgess. Apparently my blog is at the top of the Google search for his name since he was tagged in a few articles a while back. I did not have any real info about him here, so I decided to do a short article explaining who he was to people that might not have known and hopefully to honor his memory. I hated the fact that people came to the top search site for his name and were unable to find any info on him other than some minor political story of no importance.
Last night Nathan Deal said “Mack, we won, it’s finished,” Deal said, looking up. “May you rest in peace.”
Mack Burgess was a young campaign staffer that worked on Nathan Deal’s campaign whose life was cut tragically short in an automobile accident on GA 400 in Atlanta several weeks ago.
After the accident the Nathan Deal campaign issued the following statement.
The Deal team suffered a tragic loss this afternoon when one of its own died in a car accident on Ga. 400. Mack Burgess, 25, worked closely with Deal for Governor as a field staffer for the Georgia Republican Party.
“Mack was an incredible young man, smart, hard-working, with a bright future ahead of him,” said Gov. Nathan Deal. “This is a terrible loss for everyone in our organization and for anyone who knew him. We are going to take some time to grieve and pay our respects to Mack and to the Burgess family. I ask that everyone bear with us as we take a break from the campaign to mourn a life ended much too soon.”
Burgess, of Roswell, graduated in 2008 from Centennial High School and in 2012 from the University of Tennessee, where he was the president of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and active in student government. Earlier this year, Burgess worked as campaign manager for Tricia Pridemore’s campaign for Congress. He is on the Shirley and Billy Weir Foundation selection committee, which provides full university scholarships to children of Georgia golf course employees. He is the son of Banks Burgess and Missy Burgess.
“I ask that all Georgians say a prayer for Mack Burgess, for his bereaved family and for all who knew and loved him,” Deal said.
Although politics can be heated at times, no one ever wants to see the life of someone so young and promising cut short like this. It was a horrible accident. I felt bad that people were visiting my site looking for information on who he was and were not finding anything. I decided to give a short explanation. He seems to have been an exceptional young man and was extremely well loved. My deepest and most heartfelt condolences to all who knew and loved him. I also know that obituaries get removed after a few months so hopefully this information might be of value in the future once the obit is taken down and people look for his name.
BURGESS, Maret Maret Mackenzie “Mack” Burgess passed away October 14, 2014 at the age of 25. Mack was born in Roswell, Georgia, residing in Atlanta at the time of his death. Mack was the son of Missy and Banks Burgess of Roswell. Mack has a sister Sancken Burgess, of Denver, Colorado. He graduated from Centennial High School in Roswell in 2008 and graduated in 2012 from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, magna cum laude, with a degree in Government Affairs and English. Mack was a brother of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and served as President of the UT chapter in 2011. He also published a weekly column in a campus newspaper.
Mack’s post collegiate work, although brief, was impressive by any standard. Immediately following graduation, he successfully managed the re-election campaign of Stan Wise for Georgia Public Service Commission. The following week, he began work for the Hall County Chamber of Commerce, directing and managing the Lanier Islands Community Improvement District, bringing the project to fruition and a successful conclusion. He was an associate lobbyist with Chandler Haydon during the 2013 Legislative Session. Mack then assumed the role of campaign manager for Tricia Pridemore, who ran for United States Congress for Georgia’s 11th Congressional District. Most recently, he became a Political Director in Governor Nathan Deal’s re-election campaign.
Mack was a rising star as a political strategist, and beloved by everyone in Georgia’s political community, Republicans and Democrats alike. His work ethic was infectious. He will be deeply missed by all who had the great fortune to know him during his career in the political arena. Mack was a recipient of the Shirley and Billy Weir scholarship, which provided a full scholarship to the University of his choice. Following his graduation, a great honor was bestowed on Mack in 2013 when he was selected as the first Weir Scholar to serve on the Selection Committee, whose duties include awarding the scholarship to other outstanding scholars. Put simply, Mack Burgess was an exceptional young man. He personified the meaning of a “True Gentleman,” treating others, regardless of circumstance, with the type of respect born only from deep within the fabric of his being. He was incredibly loyal to his many friends and demonstrated in every facet of his being the virtues to which all should aspire … kindness, loyalty, wit, compassion, sincerity, honesty, and integrity.
Mack pursued his hobbies with passion. Although he enjoyed playing golf throughout his life, in both competition and for pleasure, he shared his father’s profound respect for the game and its many life lessons. He enjoyed sailing, writing, music, reading, and spending quality time with his friends, often in spirited debate about issues confronting his community, state and country. Mack’s love of family was a gift and blessing not only to his parents or extended family, but to all those with the great fortune to have witnessed it firsthand. Among many, one of his legacies is the lesson of unconditional love and honor for one’s mother and father. Mack’s love of family was palpable throughout his life. He is survived by his parents, Missy Maret and John Banks Burgess. Mack was their hero and the best man they knew.
He is survived by his beloved sister Sancken Burgess and his nephew Miles Newmyer. Mack is also survived by his maternal grandparents, Carol and Dean Maret of Cumming, Ga. Mack had a special bond with his grandmother Carol, whose love for Mack was well known to all who knew them. Mack’s extended surviving family includes aunts and uncles DeDe Maret Fitton of Buford, Debbie Maret Hackett of Greensboro, NC, Pam Burgess Middleton (Frank) of Albany, GA, Helene Burgess Fleming (Brother) of Tifton, GA and Billy Burgess (Chris) of Atlanta, GA as well as many cousins.
Mack is predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Nell Sancken Burgess and William E. Burgess and by his uncle, Robert Edward Fitton. A funeral service will be held on Friday, October 17, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. at St. Brigid Catholic Church at 3400 Old Alabama Road in John’s Creek, GA, with a celebration of Mack’s life to follow at 1:30 p.m. at the Country Club of Roswell, 2500 Club Springs Drive, Roswell, GA. The family has requested that any memorials be made in Mack’s honor to The Shirley and Billy Weir Scholarship Foundation, 7804 Eagles Landing Court, Columbus, GA 31909 or The Sam Robb Fund, www.samrobb.com. – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/atlanta/obituary.aspx?pid=172838068#sthash.Y7STlEME.dpuf
Musings of an unabashed and unapologetic liberal deep in the heart of a Red State. Crusader against obscurantism. Optimistic curmudgeon, snark jockey, lovably opinionated purveyor of wisdom and truth. Multi-lingual world traveler and part-time irreverent philosopher who dabbles in writing, political analysis, and social commentary. Attempting to provide some sanity and clarity to complex issues with a dash of sardonic wit and humor. Thanks for visiting!
Thank you for this.