Editor’s Note: It’s difficult to put a finger on the defining characteristic of community and sometimes even more so on the people who drive it. Bobby Burgess, unlike other subjects of this series, knows he is the subject of a story. He does not know that in him, we found a level of altruism uncommon in one so young and the heart of what the “Spirit of Marshall County” should ultimately be, thus worthy of the distinction.
Bobby Burgess is working toward making his indellible mark on the world through his faith and volunteerism. However, unlike most who grow into that role over time, Burgess is just 7 years old.
Burgess, the sixth child of Chris and Mary Burgess, spends his days learning as many children do, through home school lessons provided by his mother. In those lessons, he takes time for things not found in public schools too, Christian studies and working within the community. Every other week, Burgess volunteers at Marcella’s Kitchen, a community effort to feed those who otherwise might not have the means. It’s, perhaps, his favorite lesson of the week.
Mary said Burgess caught the bug to help others early, volunteering for the first time at just 2 ½ years old. The family has long supported Marcella’s Kitchen – with Chris and each of the children volunteering with the group from the beginning – and during the annual grocery giveaway the organization hosts each year, Burgess had to get his hands in it, too.
“We do Christmas, and he couldn’t fill the bags, but he wanted to do something,” Mary said. “So, he handed everyone a bag when they came by. I had to open them up so he could hand them the bag. … I think it was child four that started volunteering during home school time. That was one of our things, we have a big thing about volunteering in our family. He worked on Fridays, every other Friday. Then my daughter, when she got old enough joined him. Then he went off to the high school and my daughter had that time. And then she went off to the high school, and Bobby says ‘I’m taking their time.’ … Bobby looks forward to it every Friday, going out there and working.”
That service is making a difference to those around him. Barbara Ray, fellow volunteer with Marcella’s Kitchen said she sees something unique in Burgess. Ray said Burgess has an uncommon knack for understanding when those around him need the power of positivity. Ray said not long ago she had been suffering with an ailment, and when next she saw Burgess he knew she needed a pick-me-up without ever having to be told.
“He said, ‘I’m going to pray for you,’” Ray said. “And he did. You know he prays with people. It’s just really neat. Really special.”
Communicating with God is something Burgess does often. Naturally inquisitive, Mary said she and her husband have never talked to their children like children on the subject of religion. When the family reads from the Bible and holds discussions or study on the contents, Mary said the family discusses those lessons as adults. Burgess has always had a refined ability to understand the answer to his questions implicitly and shows a genuine interest in learning from the book. Though just a child, he takes his faith very much to heart.
“He’s a very sweet kid, and he does, he sits and prays with people,” Mary said. “… My husband and I are just very proud that he feels that relationship with God. It can be very difficult to sit down and pray with someone. But Bobby, he just kind of has this gift to just sit down and pray with people, and he has no problem (saying), ‘Oh, let’s pray about it.’ And in a lot of ways it teaches us. … I personally feel blessed.”
That moral compass is something that comes naturally to Burgess. Mary said her son had always been grounded in his faith and inquisitive about its role in the world. Unlike many children who have aspirations of becoming a veterinarian, a fireman or an astronaut, Burgess wants to be a Gideon when he becomes an adult. Burgess recently officially accepted Christ while attending services at his own First Missionary Baptist Church, his mother said, and he’s an honorary Gideon now.
“Bobby was, I guess, 3 ½, 4 years old, and saw the Bible in a hotel room,” Mary said. “And he asked what it was about, and we told him it was the Gideon Bible. And then every time we’d be in a hotel room visiting family and stuff he’d find the Bible. And (it was), ‘I want to be a Gideon; I want to be a Gideon.’ Well, we know Ron (Welch), so we sat down with Ron and had a discussion, and Ron said, ‘He’s asking some very good questions I would not have expected.’ … Then we had the Christmas on the square, and there was a man passing out Gideon Bibles, and Bobby says, ‘Well, I’m going to be a Gideon one day.’ … So Ron Welch got hold of me and invited him to come to a meeting. … We went out and it was a meeting for the Gideons, and they made him an honorary Gideon. He was a little overwhelmed.”
But he takes his responsibility as a future Gideon seriously. Mary told a story about how the family witnessed to a resident recently, helping during a time of need; Burgess’ heart, she said, was in the best place.
“We were given the opportunity to help and bless someone a few weeks ago,” she said. “After doing that, we spoke to him. ‘Was he a Christian: Yes,’ and we sat and we prayed with him. When we got in the car, Bobby said, ‘I really wish I had that little Gideon Bible with me so I could have given it to him.’ … That was the first thing that popped into his head.”
Marcella Perkins, founder of Marcella’s Kitchen said the center has several youth volunteers in home school who come to assist in serving meals to the clients at the kitchen. Burgess, she said, brings a joy with him that volunteers and clients find refreshing.
“He really wants to be here,” Perkins said. “He’s just a sweet kid, he’s willing to help and he really wants to be here. We pray before we start, and he always prays. He’s the one to pray that day. And I know the older people enjoy talking with the young people and seeing the young people, and that’s a plus. His whole family has been a blessing … to the kitchen since we started.”
Though Burgess enjoys spending his time helping others and being a part of something more, he’s still much a typical little boy in many ways. When he isn’t volunteering with Marcella’s or working on his school lessons, he enjoys reading, music (in addition to aspiring to be a Gideon, Burgess hopes to one day make music like Beethoven), taking care of his pet chickens and – at the risk of unmasking a cultural icon – saving the world.
“He did a lot when he was 3 ½,” Mary said. “He learned to dial 911. Right before Christmas, I have a recording, he called them and told 911 he was a superhero named ‘Batman’ and he was here to help them. It took six children to have that happen. … The man laughed. … When I ordered the recording, we (got), ‘You’re Batman’s mom?!’ So, in his spare time he likes to save the world.”
All in a day’s work. In addition to his work helping with Friday meals at Marcella’s, Burgess leads the prayer each session. He often puts his culinary foot forward by helping taste the desserts; however, when asked about his volunteerism with Marcella’s, he said his favorite part about it was, “everything.” Burgess is aware of the difference his presence makes in the lives of others to an extent, though.
“This place wouldn’t be Marcella’s without me,” Burgess joked.