Archie C. Burnham, Jr., 80, of McDonough, GA and Franklin, NC, passed away on Sunday, July 12, 2015.

Archie was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, May 10, 1935. He attended the Virginia Military Institute where as a young cadet he was motivated by a quote from General Stonewall Jackson, “You can be whatever you resolve to be.” The result was a life of great integrity, dedication, and service in public and private arenas, all with a passion for following Christ Jesus and the guidance of the Bible. After graduating from VMI in 1957, Archie was awarded an Automotive Safety Foundation fellowship for postgraduate study at Yale University in highway engineering. He served in the USAR Transportation Corps 10 years and retired as Captain. He was employed by the Georgia Department of Transportation for 30 years, serving under Commissioners Jim Gillis, Burt Lance, and Tom Moreland. In 1964 he became the first city/county traffic engineer in Bibb County (Macon) Georgia. He returned to Georgia DOT upon the establishment of the office of Traffic Engineering and Safety. Archie is especially well-known in Atlanta as spokesperson for the DOT during his 16 years as the State Traffic and Safety Director (from 1972 to his retirement in 1988). After retirement from Georgia DOT, Archie established a professional consulting firm, Archie Burnham & Associates, which has provided traffic and safety consultation for over 25 years. He was qualified in state and federal courts throughout the USA as an expert witness in cases involving traffic engineering. Above his high professional accomplishments, Archie has been a faithful Christian. He has been a diligent student of the Bible and taught classes in several churches in Georgia and North Carolina over the past 50 years. He produced over 100 radio lessons called “Studies from the Gap” which were broadcast in his home state of Virginia. He compiled a comprehensive study guide, Expressway through the Scriptures, which outlines key principles contained in every book of the Bible. He established Chisholm Ministries as author and publisher of many Bible study guides and lesson plans. At special times, he blessed many of us with his clever poems.

He is survived by his wife and faithful helpmate of 56 years, Patricia Pool Burnham, his son Archie C. Burnham, III (Butch), daughter-in-law Gwen, of Monroe, GA, and his daughter, Trisha Burnham Harville, son-in-law Jeff, of McDonough, GA, 4 grandchildren, Brittany Burnham, Jacob Harville, married to Jennifer Bailey, Levi Harville, married to Shali McCampbell, and Caitlyn Harville, by his sister Laura Forrester, brother-in-law Ben, nephew, David Forrester and his wife Kara; two nieces, Beth Anneshensley and husband Rodney and Debbie Williamson and husband Doug and many friends and colleagues.

A Funeral Service will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 15 in the Chapel of Macon Funeral Home. Rev. Tom Nahlen, Rev. Billy Sellers, Justin Harrell and Rev. Pete Heath will officiate. Burial will be in the Longview Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 2:00-3:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, at Macon Funeral Home.

Memorial donations can be made to the Longview Baptist Church, 93 Jones Ridge Road, Franklin, NC 28734.

Macon Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Online condolences can be made at maconfuneralhome.com

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