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Vincent Eric Burns, Jr. affectionately known as "Sweet Pea," was born June 22,
1981 in Valdosta, GA to Mr. Vincent Eric Burns, Sr. "Hank" as we all call him &
Mrs. Laverne Beverly Gardner-Brown of Clyattville, GA.
Sweet Pea departed this life on July 17, 2024 at Baptist Health in Lexington,
Kentucky.
Sweet Pea loved the Lord, family, football, and Jam Pony-in that order! He was
the walking billboard for self-confidence!
Sweet Pea received his education in the Lowndes County School System where
he graduated from Lowndes High School c/o 2000. He furthered his career at
Northern Arizona University and transferred to the University of Kentucky
where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree after being drafted into
the NFL by the Indianapolis Colts.
Following his NFL career, Sweet Pea was an owner operator truck driver for
Wildcat Moving Service and founder of Sweet Pea's Soul Food & Catering. His
unwavering and unconditional love for his girls was known by all! He loved his
parents, nephews, cousins, family, & friends, but MOST OF ALL-Mrs. Thelma
Houseal Gardner; his "Granny!" If you knew Sweet Pea, Granny was his best
and favorite girl! . Yes, a TRUE grandma's boy to the core!
He leaves to cherish his memory his wife Samantha Burns; parents, Vincent
Eric Burns, Sr. "Hank" (Shakita) and Laverne Beverly Gardner-Brown; sister
Adrienne Freeman (Robert); brothers, Kametrick Gardner, Rodney McCoggle
(Tiffany), Shawn Edith; grandmother Mary Faulk; aunts: Mamie Johnson,
Diann Williams, Judy Gardner, Patricia Burns; uncles: Julius Gardner, Arthur
Gardner; daughters: Jodi Wright, Nevaeh Burns, Ava Burns, Kymora Stockwell
-Burns; nephews: Desmond Jones, Michael Robinson, Robert "King" Freeman,
Josiah Freeman; niece: Jordyn Freeman; SPECIAL COUSIN Desmond Cobbs
(Amber); godsons: Jourdan, Austin, Vernon, Jr., Landen, Corbin, Jameson, and
Paxton-Wright (Bull's boys); special friends: Vernon Wright, Sr.
"Bull" (Rhonda), Joshua Williams "Slick", Kelvin Roberts "Rado" (Dimitria);
Michael Williams (Selina), Warren Wilson (Alicia) Muhammad "Mojo"
Abdullah (Angela), Deion Holts (Shania); a host of other relatives and friends.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Vincent E. "Sweet Pea" Burns Jr., please visit our floral store.