Deacon Burnnie Guillory slipped away peacefully at home on October 16, 2022, while hearing his son read scripture as he entered the presence of his Lord Jesus Christ.

Deacon Guillory was born in Mamou, Louisiana on October 1, 1932, as the first-born child of Mr. and Mrs. Simon and Edonia Frank Guillory. He accepted Christ as his Savior and was baptized at an early age. Always brilliant and ever insightful, Deacon Guillory graduated as valedictorian of the modest and segregated Ville Platte Colored High School before attending Southern University. After 2 years at Southern, he entered active military service during the Korean War. Deacon Guillory quickly received a promotion to Squadron Leader of Company C of the 30 th Infantry Regimen. There in Fort Benning, Ga Deacon Guillory trained as a paratrooper and was honorably discharged May 10, 1956, having received military medals. Immediately before he entered service to his country, Deacon Guillory married the beautiful Grace Lartigue of Mamou, Louisiana.

After working as short-shoreman at Jax Brewery in New Orleans, Deacon Guillory  drove for the segregated Black Hawk Cab company and eventually moved into the construction industry as a dump truck driver while attending barber school at nights. In the 1960s, he opened a barbershop on the west bank of New Orleans and later returned to driving taxis in New Orleans, eventually obtaining his own medallion as a private operator for the White Fleet cab line.

After rededicating his life to the Lord in 1982, Burnnie Guillory joined Bibleway Missionary Baptist Church in New Orleans where he was ordained as a deacon. From that point, above all else, he devoted himself to serving God and serving people as an expression of his love for and devotion to God. He opened Uncle Al's Barbecue Shop, producing some of the best hickory smoked barbecue New Orleans has ever seen. He bought property and rented it to "the least of these" on the west bank who needed affordable housing.

Deacon Guillory relocated to Highlands, Texas in 1991 where he developed a demolition and construction business. Ever the entrepreneur, he also had a hand in auto repair and junk removal. During his 30+years in Texas, Burnnie Guillory served as deacon at Abiding Faith Church, Newport Community Baptist Church, and Rock of Ages Church. On several occasions, he invested his consulting expertise, general construction skills and heavy equipment to build, repair, enhance or maintain those church properties at no charge or significantly below market rates.

A great lover of his family, he often used those same skills to assist in construction or remodeling projects for his children. For his grandchildren and children, "Paw Paw" (as they knew him) built doll houses, wagons, tree ladders, mini-candy stores, makeshift bicycles, and provided spontaneous hayrides and trips to snowball stands. His greatest joys included seeing his grandchildren and greatgrandchildren competing in sports, playing, or excelling at their various endeavors. This led to his fame as the "number one fan" as he loudly cheered for the Crosby High School Girls' basketball team. He earned the reputation of "barbecue master" in Florida where high school graduation barbecues became a tradition for his Florida grandchildren.

Deacon Guillory/Burnnie/Paw Paw is predeceased by his parents and a sister, Ella Mae Thomas (Kerney). Those left behind to sorely miss him include: his wife of 68 years, Grace Lartigue Guillory; son Al Patrick Guillory (Renee) of Crosby, Texas; Rebecca Guillory Gilmer (Charles) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; brother, Andrew Guillory (Barbara) of Mamou, Louisiana; sister Patricia Jackson of Eunice Louisiana; sister Glenda Simon (Donald); 11 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren (with one more on the way!); and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and church families.

Deacon Guillory will be interred at the Houston National Cemetery on Thursday, October 20 th (family only) and will be memorialized at 1:00 pm Saturday, October 22, 2022, at Rock of Ages Church, 12217 Holly Rd, Crosby, TX 77532, with the Rev. Johnny Henderson officiating.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, the family requests financial donations to the Rock of Ages Scholarship Fund in the name of Deacon Burnnie Guillory who was an ongoing supporter of the church's youth and youth ministry.