Overseer Rev. Dr. Robert L. Burgess

In Loving Memory of Overseer Rev. Dr. Robert L. Burgess October 11, 1926 – July 14, 2025
Overseer Rev. Dr. Robert L. Burgess was a devoted pastor, civic leader, and community pillar whose ministry and mission shaped countless lives over nearly a century. A World War II Army veteran and Shaw University alumnus, he later founded Grace Community Church in Amityville, New York, where he faithfully served for over three decades.
Rev. Dr. Burgess answered the call to ministry in 1974 after years of service at Bethel A.M.E. Church in Copiague. In 1984, he was led by God to establish Grace Community Church with a small, committed group of believers. Under his leadership, the church grew in both number and influence—offering a spiritual home and extending outreach to the sick, the poor, the bereaved, and those imprisoned.
Known for preaching with conviction and compassion, he also worked tirelessly outside the pulpit to uplift the Amityville community. He led legal efforts to challenge discriminatory zoning and banking practices, and served on the Suffolk County African American Advisory Board under two County Executives. His ministry embodied both spiritual leadership and social justice.
Even after passing the pastoral mantle to his daughter in 2015, Rev. Dr. Burgess remained a guiding force as Overseer—teaching, mentoring, and pouring wisdom into his church, family, and community until his final days.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 71 years, Jacqueline; their three daughters; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. His legacy of faith, justice, and service will forever live on through those he served and loved.

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