BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP)–The youngest son of Rick Burgess of the popular syndicated radio duo “Rick and Bubba” died Jan. 19 when he fell into a swimming pool at his home and drowned. He was 2 years old.
“We ask that you bathe Rick, Sherri, and the entire Burgess family in prayer as they deal with the loss of their youngest son, Bronner Burgess,” a statement at rickandbubba.com said. “We all are grieving together in this terrible loss.”
Burgess is a member of Shades Mountain Baptist Church and his co-host, Bill Bussey, is a member of The Church at Brook Hills, both Southern Baptist congregations in Birmingham, Ala., where the “Rick and Bubba Show” is based at WZZK.
“He was real energetic, just a beautiful child,” Danny Wood, pastor of Shades Mountain, told The Birmingham News. “He was kind of a mama’s boy in the sense that he was really attached to Sherri. He was a very healthy child. He was a typical boy.”
The comedic pair, heard weekday mornings on more than 40 radio stations mostly in the South, has been regarded as a family friendly alternative to the shock jocks often associated with morning radio. They frequently mention their Christian beliefs on air and have earned a substantive witness in the drive-time genre.
Burgess was a guest speaker at a Christian retreat for high school students in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., over the weekend and flew home as soon as he received the call about his son’s death, the newspaper said.
“The Burgess’s want to give all Honor and Glory to GOD for the many blessings He has given us, especially the life of Bronner Burgess,” the statement on the website said. “And while we do not understand, we know who is in charge and His will be done in life and in death.”
A public memorial service was scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at Shades Mountain, and the family is directing donations to a fund they’ll use “to give back to ministries in honor of Bronner.” Contributions are being handled by an evangelistic association based in Birmingham, according to the website.
Wood told The News he spent time with the Burgess family on Sunday.
“The death of a child, it’s very difficult but they have a great strength because of their faith in Jesus Christ,” Wood said, adding that in the midst of tragedy Burgess is living out the faith he verbalizes on the radio.
In comments to Baptist Press, Wood said the family hopes good will come from the tragedy.
“They are praying that his son’s life and even death can be used to glorify God as other people see how believers handle grief crises, and that others will come to know Christ also,” he said.
The Burgess’ Sunday School class at Shades Mountain has been helping the family cope, Wood said.
“They’ve provided all the food for them, and they could probably eat for six months with all the food that has been brought,” the pastor said. “They’ve done a great job ministering to the family.”
Wood said the church is planning overflow seating to accommodate a large crowd for the memorial service, and he said he and Rick will speak at the service.
“I’d encourage people to pray for them,” Wood said. “Grief is a journey that people have to walk through, and just pray for them day to day. They’ll need that and they’ll greatly appreciate it.”
The statement posted on the Rick and Bubba website concluded with 1 Thessalonians 5:10: “He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.”
WBRC-TV in Birmingham reported that the Shelby County 911 service received a report of a possible drowning at 7:24 p.m. Saturday, and Bronner Burgess was transported to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham where he was pronounced dead despite medical efforts.
“Our preliminary investigation indicates that this is a tragic accident and our deepest sympathy goes out to the family,” the local sheriff said in a statement.
Rick and Sherri Burgess have four other children, Brandi, Blake, Brooks and Brody.
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Compiled by Erin Roach, Baptist Press staff writer.
