Monticello Live

Bill and Beverly Burchfield are a well-known duo in Monticello. Both have devoted their lives to God, the church, and serving others. Many in the community have referred to them as a great choice for the next One Monticello Life due to how they touch other’s lives every day.

Bill Burchfield grew up in Halley, a small farming town. He lived on the farm his parents worked and said, “I knew all along I didn’t want to do that.” The long hours, hard work, and ample stress turned him away from farming as a profession.

Beverly Burchfield grew up in Pine Bluff and attended school in Watson Chapel. She was introduced to Bill by her uncle, and the two were married in Pine Bluff in 1968. Beverly said, “When we were dating the three things that attracted me to Bill were that he could play piano, he made me laugh, and he was active in his church. My parents dearly loved him.”

The Burchfields both began their professional careers working at Dermott High School. Beverly taught there for 7 years before leaving in 1977 to work at Potlatch. She retired from Potlatch in 2007. Bill taught at Dermott High School for 38 years before retiring in 2005.

Mr. Burchfield loved teaching his students. He said that he had many favorites, and he always strived to help them in any way he could. Bill has also been called a mentor by many of his fellow teachers that he helped along the way . His way of reaching youth is admired by many.

Bill also spent 12-15 years working at Stephenson/Dearman Funeral Home as the Assistant Funeral Director. He said, “I don’t like death, never have; but I like helping families with death.”

After working their entire adult lives, the Burchfields say that retirement has been a very welcome retreat. They keep busy, but enjoy the lack of a schedule that once tied them down.

Beverly said, “Since he’s retired he’s devoted himself to college guys – talking, texting, taking them to breakfast and lunch. He keeps up with their grades, their finances, and their family lives.

“I coordinate the Student Adoption Program out of our church for MBSF students. We have about 30 students right now.” – Bill Burchfield

The Burchfields are members of Pauline Baptist Church and are very active both inside and outside of the building. The Student Adoption Program’s purpose is to have church families “adopt” college students.

Bill said, “We want our church families to pay attention to the students, be available for them, feed them and things like that.”  Beverly joked, “That’s a big deal because college students are always starving!”

Beverly helps in the office at church, lends help to Bill with his ministries, and said, “I help wherever I’m needed.” Mr. Burchfield is a deacon and a Sunday School teacher. Both have a great love of playing the piano and organ.

Bill said, “We just got a Yamaha Grand built in Japan, which is my most favorite brand of piano. It was really a God thing… it just fell into our laps.”

When asked how they managed to enjoy retirement while others often find themselves bored, Bill said, “My life is so full now. I stay so busy! I have absolutely loved retirement.”

Beverly said, “I am so thankful that I was retired when my mother got sick. I got to help take care of her, be there for her, and I feel she got to die with a lot of dignity and respect because of that.” “My mother really influenced me to give. She was so poor growing up, but as soon as she had anything she gave it to someone in need… she gave all she could.”

Beverly also said, “We have one daughter, Jo Carol, and she has one daughter, Frankie Jo… Frankie is six and it is so nice to be able to run up to Little Rock to see her, pick her up, or take care of her if I’m needed. Frankie Jo is something else! She says she wants to be a firefighter.”

When not serving her church or spending time with family, Beverly loves to read. Her favorite types of books are autobiographies, self-help, and mysteries. She also spends a lot of time playing piano at home. She said, “Bill doesn’t… only at church.”

“She loves flea markets! If I didn’t declutter the house, we wouldn’t be able to walk through it,” – Mr. Burchfield

Most of Bill’s free time is spent with college students. “I feed on those college guys… they are nourishment for me.”

Beverly said that Bill cannot help but serve others. She gave this example; coming back from The Village after supper one night, we passed a man on the side of the road with his hood up. After a few miles Bill finally said, “Alright! Turn back around.. we have to go back!””

Beverly said this is common for him to do. If he sees someone’s need, he is driven to help them. Bill said that he feels convicted by God if he tries to go on and ignore someone’s need or hurt. God drives him to go back and help.

The Burchfields both keep very active, and Bill said a major motivator to him to do so was his diagnoses of diabetes last year. He said, “I keep active and it keeps it under control.” Beverly laughed and said, “I’ve exercised off and on our entire marriage… that’s how I keep these hips at 42 inches!”

As for what they see themselves doing in the coming years, Beverly said that she wants to be a hospital volunteer. “I already crochet hats for the newborns, but I think I could do more.” Bill said, “As long as I’m able and healthy enough to do it, I plan to keep doing what I’m doing. Keep playing piano and such. I don’t have any goals set in stone, I just want to enjoy my life.”

In closing Beverly said, “I have thoroughly enjoyed living in Monticello. It’s convenient, it’s fun, and our best and closest friends are here.”

Monticello has thoroughly enjoyed having the Burchfields reside here, and MonticelloLive wants to take this opportunity to thank them for their lives of service.

Beverly’s Favorites
Food – Chocolate
TV – Good Morning America
Author – Mary Higgins Clark and John Grisham
Book – The Reluctant Entertainer
Music – Southern Gospel, Il Divo

Bill’s Favorites
Food – Fried Chicken and Desserts
TV – News, History Channel
Restaurant – Shorty Small’s and Larry’s Pizza
Music – Southern Gospel

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 16th, 2011 at 9:00 pm and is filed under Feature: OML. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.