Serving those impacted by incarceration
Chaplain Burke served at Augusta and Coffeewood Correctional Centers.
Condolences may be sent to:
P.O. Box 2335
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22801
Chaplain Robby Wray Burke, Jr., 65, a resident of Harrisonburg, passed away on Thursday, December 30, 2021, at the University of Virginia Medical Center. Chaplain Burke was born on October 6, 1956, in Savannah, Georgia, and was a son of Martha Jane Hutcheson Burke and the late Robby Wray Burke Sr. He graduated from VMI in 1978 with a Bachelors Degree in History, and then in 1981, he received his Masters of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He later graduated from James Madison University with a Masters degree in American History in 1991, and a teaching license in 2000. A proud graduate of VMI, he served in the United States Army as a Chaplain from 1983 until 1986. He pastored many churches and denominations for 40 years. Since 2009, he served as a prison chaplain. He was a member of Harrisonburg Baptist Church.
On August 6, 1978, he married Karen Myers Burke, who survives. Also surviving are his daughters, Erin Rae Burke Eye and husband Josh of Bridgewater, Leanne Elizabeth Burke of Richmond; mother, Martha Jane Hutcheson Burke; sister, Holly Burke Anderson and husband Steve of Savannah, Georgia; sister-in-law, Sabrina Burke; grandchildren, Ethan Burke, Liam Anderson, Brett Eye, Shelby Eye, Maddox Eye, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to his father, Chaplain Burke was preceded in death by his brother, Thomas Burke.
Reverends Matt Winters, Eli Withers, and Randy Myers will conduct a memorial service on Monday, January 3, 2022, at Harrisonburg Baptist Church at 2:00 p.m. The family requests everyone wear masks.
The service may be viewed online at https://www.facebook.com/hbcalive/posts/10159907106396214.
At his request, the body was cremated and there will be no viewing or services at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace Inside, 2828 Emerywood Parkway, Richmond, VA, (https://graceinside.org/donate/) or to Kingsway Outreach, PO Box 2335, Harrisonburg, VA, 22801.
Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.mcmullenfh.com. McMullen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
From GraceInside
All of us at GraceInside are heartbroken and are mourning the sudden loss of one of our AMAZING state prison Chaplains: our dear brother, Chaplain Robby Burke (Augusta Correctional Center). Robby began as our Chaplain at Coffeewood Corr. Ctr. (CWCC - near Culpeper) on March 19, 2009. He served there until transferring to Augusta Corr. Ctr. (ACC) on July 1, 2017, and his ministry there continued officially until Dec. 31, 2022. He was with Chaplain Service/GraceInside for 12 YEARS in all (8 years at CWCC and 4 years at ACC). Robby was utterly unique, with a quick wit and wonderful sense of humor, but also with a love and compassion that would cause his eyes to well up with tears when he shared about folks that he ministered to. He truly loved all those that he served (inmates and staff), loved being a Chaplain and gave it way beyond 100%. Robby will be dearly missed by all of us in the "GraceInside Family", though we know that he is now rejoicing in the Presence of his Lord Jesus Christ. We know that the Lord has already welcomed him with open arms, with a big smile and with the oh-so-true words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant!" We love you, Robby! [❤] [🙏] [❤]
