Rev. Dillard J. Burrell's Obituary
Funeral services for Rev. Dillard J. Burrell, 92, of Lakeland, FL will be held at Victory Church in the Sanctuary on January 16 at 10:00 a.m. Viewing will be held from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Dr. Wayne Blackburn, Rev. Terry Raburn, Rev. Weldon Gosnell and Rev. Eddie Tanner will be officiating.
He was best known to his friends as “DJ”, to his parishioners as “Brother B”, and to his granddaughter Savanna as “Pop Pop”.
Rev. Burrell was born on April 1, 1925 in Piedmont, SC. He is survived by his son Dillard J. Burrell, Jr., daughters Cathy Jane Hogan, of St. Petersburg, FL, Suzanne Burrell Alderman of Lakeland, FL, granddaughter Savanna Cara Hogan of Dallas, TX and a sister Willene Spence of Bristol, VA.
After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the US Navy during WWII and served aboard the USS Sturtevant, a destroyer escort ship. Soon after his discharge in 1946 he married Doris Fletcher, his lifelong neighbor and childhood sweetheart. They were married over 70 years until her death in 2016.
Dillard found his calling at an Oral Roberts meeting in Columbia, SC. During the invitation his mother pointed toward the alter, he responded and his life was changed forever.
Rev. Burrell was a graduate of Southeastern Bible College and Florida Southern College both in Lakeland, FL and attended Stetson University in Deland, FL as a graduate student. Dillard was later called to pastor Calvary Assembly of God Church in Dade City, FL and was there over 31 years. While there he and the members of the congregation built a beautiful new sanctuary and youth activity center complete with basketball court and swimming pool.
Dillard was an outstanding golfer, was champion ping pong player of Dade City and served as President of the Dade City Kiwanis Club. He will also be remembered for his beautiful rose garden. In addition to his pastoral duties he worked at Peninsular Florida District Council in Lakeland as treasurer and development director. During his time at the District office he traveled extensively assisting churches and their members in trusts, wills, and estate planning. His foresight and financial acumen was instrumental in the construction, maintenance, and management of Masterpiece Gardens, the District Conference Complex in Lake Wales, FL. Rev. Burrell spearheaded the committee planning the expansion and growth of Southeastern University. He retired at the age of 89.
Interment will be private at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL.
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