Services for Wendell E. Burkes will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 8, 2023 from Mars Hill Baptist Church in Winston County. Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 7, 2023 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Home and on Friday, one hour prior to service, at the church. Interment will be in Mars Hill Cemetery in Winston County. Bro. Dwight Fleming, Bro. Tony Linley and Bro. Don Parish to officiate.
Wendell was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother. He attended Arlington School, graduated from Neshoba Central in 1960 and attended Hinds Junior College. He worked as an electrician for 24 years and later as a poultry and cattle farmer for 22 years. Mr. Burkes was a member of Mars Hill Baptist Church in Winston County. He loved horses, cows, sports, western movies and spending time with family.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Evelyn Williamson Burkes; daughter, Carol Burkes (Randall Pugh); grandsons, Jimmy Estes (Dana) and Tucker Estes (Tracy); great-grandchildren, John Tucker Estes, Emerson Estes, Ellis Estes and Dawson Estes; sisters, Janice Burnette (Boyd) and Judy Endsley (the late Jerry Endsley); several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Burkes was preceded in death by parents, Everette Burkes and Bonnie Kate Fondren and grandparents, Newton and Minnie Tucker and Joe and Tiny Burkes.
Pallbearers are Dan Young, Jim Estes, Randall Pugh, Steve Tucker, Marty Burkes, Brad Burnette and Joshua Drury.
Honorary Pallbearer Dr. Fred Duggan.