Clarkton DYB

Buddy Burney
Memorial Golf Tournament
Saturday Sept 18,2010
White Lake Golf Course

Buddy Burney Day 1/17/2009

 

Thanks to all who donated their time and money.

Many thanks to the following.       Smithfield Foods  -  Mountannier Farms  - Melton  - Dowless Catering 

Joe's Barbaque  -  Bo's of Clarkton  -  Corner Cafe   -  Farm Bureau Insurance  -  Short Brothers Automotive 

 

 
 
Neighbors and Friends of Buddy Burney are busy preparing barbeque pork and barbeque chicken plates in Clarkton. Proceeds go to the Buddy Burney family to assist in medical bills. Buddy died last week after a bout with cancer.

                                         

Charles Franklin "Buddy" Burney, Sr. January 10, 2009

Charles Franklin “Buddy” Burney, Sr., 65, of Clarkton entered into eternal rest Saturday, January 10, 2009.
Buddy was born in Bladen County to the late George and Georgia Anner Burney.
He was a huge advocate for young people and a tremendous supporter of Dixie Youth Baseball. Buddy volunteered with Dixie Youth Baseball for over thirty years. He served as a coach, district director, assistant state director, and for the last ten years as one of the three national directors for North Carolina.
He was a "jack of all trades". He was a route salesman, a restaurant owner, a theater manager, and most widely known for his career as a sports editor for various local news medias. Buddy loved all sports and very creative in the art of woodworking.
Buddy is survived by his wife, Leesa of the home; a son and daughter-in-law, Frankie and Christy Burney and their children, Whitney and Sky of Clarkton; a daughter and son-in-law, Cory and Ron Singletary and their daughter, Summer; and a daughter, Casey Burney of the home. He is also survived by one sister, Geraldine Burney Edge and husband, David of White Oak; four brothers, James Robert (Jim) and wife, Linda of Elizabethtown, Walt (Peat-C) and wife, Jean, Ronnel and wife, Ann, and Marvin and wife, Marsha all of Clarkton; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation is planned for Sunday, January 11, 2009 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Bladen-Gaskins Funeral Home. The funeral will be Monday, January 12, 2009 at 2:00 pm at White Plains Presbyterian Church with Rev. Warren Hill, Rev. Patrick Sinclair, and Rev. David Rutland officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Dixie Youth Scholarship Fund c/o Carey Wrenn 190 Sage Lane, Madison Heights, Virginia 24572.

                                          Fri

So long, Good Buddy


By DAN BISER
Sports Editor - Whiteville News Reporter
Published: Thursday, January 15, 2009 8:59 AM EST
There was nothing fancy about Buddy Burney.

That’s what made him the tremendously respected individual he was.

He just showed up every day to do the things that needed to be done, and he always did them the right way. He knew he couldn’t please all the people all the time, but he came as darn near close to accomplishing that as anyone I’ve ever known.

He never sweated the small stuff, and he always had time for everyone. I never heard him make a disparaging remark about anyone. The children and youth in this area have never had a more loyal friend and supporter.

Buddy came from a large, close-knit family that has been widely known for its warmth, kindness and service to others. This is where his many appreciated values and qualities evolved. He was genuine. Everybody knew him and everybody liked him.

Buddy not only managed to handle his duties as sports editor of The Bladen Journal in an efficient and admirable way for years and years, but he also served in several major capacities of Dixie Youth Baseball, most recently as a member of the national board of directors.

Despite his stature in the DYB program, Buddy always wanted to be one to stay behind the scenes when it came to personal recognition. He just wanted to be “the same ol’ country boy from Clarkton” while making sure that things were being run correctly. His son Frankie has followed in his footsteps in the DYB program.

We lost Buddy to cancer last weekend, and that jolted the many of us who have always known him to be right there on spot, working for the kids and adding his personal touch.

As I look back, I realize just how appropriate and timely it was last summer at the North Carolina Dixie Youth AA (coach-pitch) Tournament in Wilmington when the event’s sportsmanship trophy was named in Buddy’s honor.

For the past several weeks, the Clarkton Dixie Youth Baseball League has been planning “Buddy Burney Day” for this Saturday at the Clarkton DYB complex. The celebration was formed as a fund-raiser to defray his rising medical expenses. Buddy had hoped to be on hand for the event. Unfortunately, he passed away before that date, but his family and close friends have requested that the event still be held so that all who knew and loved him can still come and enjoy the day together.

For the past 30 years, Buddy Burney and I have stood or sat together on the same sidelines many, many times. Always a gentleman, always a “Buddy.” We’re certainly going to miss him.

ASK The Ref. by Larry Hammonds -Bladen Journal

Today, let me talk about a friend of mine, Buddy Burney.

Nearly everyone has a deep-seeded desire to “make a difference” or help change another person’s life. In striving for that elusive goal, people try to accumulate riches, fame, notoriety, or acclaim. Although many succeed in their accumulated “things,” few actually make a difference.

Buddy is the same as anyone else in his desire to make a difference. What sets him apart is that he actually has accomplished that elusive goal. Buddy does it through his dedication to children and the love of sports, especially the game of youth baseball.

There are countless men and women around today who grew up in the Dixie Youth Baseball program and now have children who have been under the watchful eye of Buddy. Not only has he dedicated a big portion of his life to DYB, he has done it with encouragement and a genuineness that few can ever claim.

I have never seen Buddy have a harsh moment and have never heard him privately or publicly speak anything but good about other people. What stands out for my children, Macon and Kelsey, is that every time they would meet “Mr. Buddy,” he always spoke and called them by their first name. One thing you could consistently expect from Buddy was that when he was on your side, you couldn’t have a closer friend.

I first became acquainted with Buddy through his son, Frankie, when our sons were on the same DYB team. It was evident from the beginning that it was the children who were important to him and the program, and not the adults.

Although Buddy’s own grandson was playing, he never showed partiality or tried to invoke his thoughts into the team. On the contrary, everything that he did was for the betterment of the program and the children.

I remember the day that we were second in the state in coach-pitch. We were not even picked to advance anywhere in the tournament, but when the dust settled, we were playing for the state title. Buddy was at every game, for all teams, and only when it was over, he went to Sky and gave him a big hug and kiss and told him how proud he was of him. There could never be a stronger advocate for our youth than Buddy Burney. Thanks, Buddy, for being there for all of us and our children.

Most of you know that I have been writing several articles on the sport of youth baseball and high school basketball. I spoke with Buddy and asked him for a portion of his sports section in the Bladen Journal. Buddy viewed it as another way to reach out and touch the youth and adults of the county.

What stands out for me is that there was never a reluctance to share a space for my articles. His generosity is just another example of the way Buddy operates.

For everything you have done for all of us, young and old, let me simply say to my friend, “Thank you, Buddy, and thanks for giving us a model so that at some time and maybe in some other way, we, too, can follow your example and make a difference.”

by Jefferson Weaver - News Reporter


All too often, I’ve been to funerals on my birthday.A loved one, a relative, a dear friend, or someone who deserved what little homage I could offer during a last rite.

I likely won’t make it to Buddy Burney’s funeral today, Jan. 12. Buddy died of cancer Saturday morning at 68. He leaves behind a family I got to know when Buddy and I worked together for a number of years.

Buddy and I were vastly different, yet we were a lot more alike than many people realized. I won’t bore you with the details her, but we both believed in baseball, especially youth baseball; we both believed in our families; and we both believed in small newspapers and the role they play in a community.

Buddy always had a calming effect on a high-strung newsroom, even when things weren’t going his way. Regardless of what some sports-moms and sports-dads might think, I never saw a sign of Buddy favoring one team over another. When he wanted to, he could write a heckuva feature or news story, too, but his heart and soul were on the fields where little kids have big dreams.

Buddy’s final pitch has been thrown; the buzzer has sounded, and the last kick went through the uprights. Rest easy, old friend. You will be missed.

Weaver is a staff writer at The News Reporter. Call him at 642-4104, ext. 227, or email him at jeffweaver@newsreporter.biz.