NATCHEZ — Services for Peter Theophile Burns Sr., 88, of Natchez, who died Tuesday, April 6, 2010, will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mary Basilica with the Rev. David O’Connor officiating.

Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. until service time Friday, both at the church.

Mr. Burns was born Oct. 19, 1921, in Adams County, the fifth child and third son of Francis Parnell and Honora Grady Burns.

He was a 1939 graduate of Cathedral High School where he was the quarterback for the first year ever Cathedral football team in the fall of 1938. He then proudly served his country in the U.S. Coast Guard, stationed in the South Pacific during World War II.

Mr. Burns was active in the lumber and timber business as well as an owner of Burn’s Shoe Store. He was a lifetime member of St. Mary Basilica; Knights of Columbus, serving as Grand Knight and the Faithful Navigator of the Fourth Degree; Krewe of Phoenix, serving as a Duke in 1987; and the Krewe of Killarney.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Anthony, Patrick and Andrew Burns; and two sisters, Mary Agnes B. Frye and Noreen B. Aubic.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Theresé Chouest Burns; three daughters, Annette Burns and husband, Charles, Ann Burns, all of Natchez, and Melanie Kennedy and husband, Rick, of Vidalia; five sons, Parnell Burns, Peter Burns Jr. and wife, Diane, and Paul Burns and wife, Laura, all of Natchez, John Burns and Michael McGehee, both of Atlanta, and David Burns and wife, Shirley, of Cut Off, La.; 15 grandchildren, Conner Burns, Elizabeth M. Turner and husband, Blake, Fletcher Mims, Patrick Vogt and Harrison Burns, all of Natchez, Theresa B. Anderson and husband, Russ, of Charlotte, N.C., Max Mullins and wife, Libby, of Jasper, Texas, Francis “Trey” Burns and wife, Melissa, of Houston, Texas, Brandi B. Klein and husband, Andrew, Carter Burns and Tyler Burns, all of Jackson, Sara B. Searcy and husband, Brett, of Cypress, Texas, Davin Burns and wife, Angelique, and Dane Burns, all of Larose, La., and Peter Burns III of Boone, N.C.; nine great-grandchildren, Brendan Anderson, Brittany Funderburg, Brooks Turner, Makayla and Madison Burns, Adriana, Destyn and Ashton Burns, and Marijain Burns; one great-great-grandchild, James Campbell Funderburg; two sisters, Margaret Burns and Ann Elizabeth Garrity, both of Natchez; and one sister-in-law, Hazel Chouest Faulk of Larose.

Pallbearers will be Andy Burns, Tim Burns, Jim Faulk, Byron Garrity, Joe Garrity, Henry LeBlanc, Pat Burns Jr. and Bob Faulk.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Walter Dawkins, Dr. Jerry Iles, Billy Abbott and Dr. Tom Borum.

The family expresses a special thank you to Thamathy Banks, Camille Barnes, Shanta Dunmore, April Jenkins and Debra Richardson.

Memorials may be made to Burns-Grady Family Memorial Trust, Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi, P.O. Box 2248, Jackson, MS 39225 or a charity of choice.

Online condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.