Funeral services were held November 23, 2013, at St. Peters Catholic Church in Bassfield for Mr. Neil “Mr. Carraway” Burns, age 78, of Bassfield, who passed away on November 20 at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg. Interment followed at St. James Cemetery in Bassfield. Saulters Moore Funeral Home of Prentiss was in charge of all arrangements.

Father Peter Varghese officiated. Pallbearers were John Burns, Eddie Lee, Steve Gordon, Dan Gordon, Scotty Burns, Justin Burns, Lance Mancuso and Brandon Mancuso. Honorary pallbearers were Clint Fagan, Kenneth Harrington, David Harrington, Charlie Harrington, Gary Jackson, John Welcher, Wayne Brown, Steve Buckner and Sylvester Buckner.

Mr. Cornelius Augustine Burns was born on May 16, 1935, in Bassfield. He was the son of Leo Burns and Ambrosia O’Connell Burns. He began working at the A.F. Carraway Store in Bassfield at the age of 17, eventually buying the store in 1993, and worked there until November 2013, for a total of 61 years. He was known around Bassfield as “Mr. Carraway”.

Mr. Burns was a big supporter of Bassfield School Athletics. There was a special place in his heart for the Henry Brown family and the Bassfield community. He enjoyed many things including walking, bicycle riding, squirrel hunting and square dancing. He also loved trains and motorcycles. Mr. Burns was a member of St. Peters Catholic Church and was very active in the church and held several offices. He loved the Lord, the store and his family.

Mr. Burns is survived by his wife, Janice Burns of Bassfield; his son, Sean Burns (Tressa) of Columbia; his daughters, Lynn Miller (Mike) of Prentiss, Bronwyn Dyess (Randy) of Petal, and Colleen Powell (Ray) of Canton; his stepsons, Stephen Waldrop of Olive Branch and Greg Waldrop (Montez) of Stringer; his nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; and one step-great-grandchild; his brothers, James Burns and Kevin Burns (Karen) both of Bassfield, and Roderick Burns of Collins; his sisters, Margaret Lee of Ponchatoula, LA, and Patricia Gordon (Charles) of Brandon.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Vincent Burns.