Christopher (Chris) Randal Burns, age 87, passed away on June 7, 2023, at his home. Chris was born in Tryon, North Carolina on February 15, 1937 to William Asbon and Lillian Pace Burns. He was a member of Highland Baptist Church where he accepted Christ as his Savior on October 18, 1987.
Chris began his unofficial career in golf when he was six years old shagging balls for the pro at Tryon Country Club. At 17 he joined the U.S. Air Force. During a seven-year stint in the military, he played on the U.S. Air Force golf teams in Europe and also assisted in building a golf course at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Texas. In 1961 Chris was hired as Golf Professional the Florence Golf and Country Club. He supervised the building of an additional nine holes at FCC, making it the first 18-hole course in the Shoals.
Being the golf professional at FGCC allowed Chris to have a direct impact on the lives of the club’s membership. His greatest passion has always been junior golf, and the lessons learned under his tutelage are still felt today by former students who have gone on to other facets of their lives.
Throughout his career, Chris received numerous awards and national recognitions. He was named one of American’s top teachers by Golf Magazine, 1968 Alabama PGA Professional of the Year, PGA Dixie Section Teacher of the Year (1995), PGA Dixie Section Senior Golf Professional of the Year (1997), PGA Dixie Section Junior Golf Leader (1999), PGA Dixie Section Bill Strausbaugh Award 2010. In 2023 Chris was inducted into the Alabama/North Florida Section PGA Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Lauderdale County Sports Hall of Fame in 2003 and named Shoals Citizen of the Year in 2009.
Chris is survived by his loving wife, Patricia Nash Burns, grandchildren, Kenneth C. (Kace) Franks, III and Allison Jennings Franks, and sister, Hazel Morgan, sister-in-law, Ruth Nash Willoughby and husband Bill Willoughby and nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Laurie Burns Franks, brothers, Aaron (Bud) Burns, Charles Burns and J.L. Burns, sisters, Helen Hill and Arlee Graham.
Visitation will be Friday, June 9 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Highland Baptist Church. Celebration of Life will be at 12 noon, Saturday, June 10 with military funeral honors at Highland Baptist Church. Burial will be at a later date at Henry Cemetery, Corinth, MS.
To celebrate Chris’ life, donations may be made to the Chris and Patricia Burns Junior Golf Foundation, 885 Florence Boulevard, Florence, AL 35630 or your favorite charity.
