The Springfield Sun – Thursday, August 13, 1942

 JOE BURKHEAD EX-MAGISTRATE DIED SATURDAY

Prominent Washington County Man Taken by Death After Lingering Illness:  Rites Sunday At Willisburg

Joe Burkhead, widely known retired farmer and former member of the Fiscal Court of this county, died at his home near Tatham Springs at 11:45 Saturday morning, August 8, 1942, of complicated troubles.  He had been in failing health several years, having retired from active work and from the office of Magistrate because of illness.

The son of the late Charles and Margaret Chesser Burkhead, Mr. Burkhead was born May 16, 1871, in the Tatham Springs section of this county and spent his entire life in that community.  He was for many years actively engaged in farming and livestock raising, in which he enjoyed success, and was always active in civic affairs of his community and interested in the fiscal affairs of his county.  He served as Magistrate thirteen years, having declined to make the race for renomination some years ago because of illness.  He also was active in church work.  He was a member of the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church and was for a number of years a member of the official body, being a Deacon at the time of his death.

Surviving are his widow, the former Miss Sarah Satterly, with whom he was united in marriage almost fifty years ago; five sons, Ray, Louisville; Omar, Taylorsville; John and James, this county, and Dr. N. H. Burkhead, Owensboro, whose exact location is not now known, as he is in the U.S. Medical Corps with fighting forces overseas; three daughters, Mrs. Della Jenkins, Willisburg; Mrs. Nellie Coulter and Mrs. Lizzie Best, Tatham Springs; eleven grandchildren, four
great-grandchildren; one brother, Silas Burkhead, Willisburg; one sister, Mrs.
Annie Milburn, this county; a half-brother, James Burkhead, Flat Rock, Ind.,
and a half-sister, Mrs. Rena Thompson, this city.

Funeral services for Mr. Burkhead were held at the Baptist church at Willisburg at 3:30 Sunday afternoon, the Rev. Charles Devine of Mt. Olivet preaching the
sermon.  He was assisted in the services by the Rev. J. C. Raikes, pastor at Willisburg.  Interment was in the family lot in Evergreen Cemetery at Willisburg.

Pallbearers were five grandsons, Don Jenkins, Joe, Silas, Willie and Wilmer Burkhead, and a nephew, Verner Hudson.

Few men in Washington County were more widely known or better liked than Joe Burkhead.  He was a man of the highest Christian ideals; faithful in all duties entrusted to him, whether social, religious or business; was truly a good neighbor; firm in his convictions, yet liberal in his views; broadminded and charitable to a fault.  He was the type of man who made better the community in which he spent his long and useful life; one whose passing means an irreparable loss to his family, friends and the county as a whole.