Emerald Gene Burmaster, 74, of Columbus, MS, passed away on Sunday, August 18, 2024, at his residence.

Visitation will be Friday, August 23, 2024, from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Lowndes Funeral Home.  The funeral service will be Saturday, August 24, 2024, at 9:00 AM at Lowndes Funeral Home with Bro. Robert Gillis officiating. Burial will be at Bluff Springs Cemetery, 2190 Lynville Rd,
De Kalb, MS 39328 with Lowndes Funeral Home, Columbus, Mississippi directing.

Emerald Gene Burmaster was born to Helen Elizabeth Dearing Burmaster and Floyd Thomas Burmaster on April 9, 1950, in Bloomington, Illinois. He spent most of his school years attending Bloomington Public School. He was a graduate of Normal High School. He married Donna Grace Gully in 1969 and was residing in Bloomington at the time of the birth of their first child, Jessica Aileen. In 1973, Gene moved his family to McComb, Mississippi, where he worked for Illinois Central Gulf Railroad. While in McComb he and his wife welcomed their second child, Shawn Thomas. In 1980, he moved his family to Jackson, Mississippi, where he continued to work for the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad. While in Jackson, he and his family became members of Forest Hill Baptist Church, where Gene received Christ as his personal savior and became a Deacon. In 1986, Gene began working for the Gulf Mobile Southern Railroad, working out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and finally in Artesia, Mississippi. In 1988, he moved his family to Columbus, Mississippi. In Columbus, he and his family joined and served at Canaan Baptist Church, where Gene also served a short time as a Deacon. He continued to work for the railroad until his retirement as a Carman from Kansas City Southern Railroad in 2006. In 1999, he and his wife, Donna moved to the Liberty Community of Ethelsville, Alabama, where they began attending Ethelsville Baptist Church until feeling God's lead in another direction. In 2004, Gene and his wife joined 11 other families in beginning a new church in the Columbus area;  State Line Baptist is the result of that adventure. Gene remained a vital part of that church family until his passing.

Gene was blessed with a wonderful talent for singing, which he used to praise God. He sang beautiful solos and was part of the men's quartet "Gospel Disciples" and later in the "New Harvest" quartet.

Gene will always be remembered for his love of cooking and his great quest for gardening, which have blessed many through the years. He also had a great love for animals, especially hummingbirds, and often had hundreds flying around the front porch.

Gene's love of God, family, and friends will always be his greatest testament to life. He is survived by his wife, Donna, daughter, Jessica Aileen Linquist (Jonathan), son, Shawn Thomas Burmaster (Cassie), and grandchildren, Thomas Bruce Burmaster, Shawn Brayden Burmaster, Brianna Patricia Burmaster, William Chandler Zimmer, Lorelyn Aileen Linquist, and Jeremiah Jonathan Linquist, sister, Carol Wyszyuski , along with a multitude of other family and friends. Gene is preceded in death by his mother, Helen Elizabeth Dearing, father, Floyd Thomas Burmaster,  and sisters, Barbara Westfall (Phil) and Joy Lewis (Bernie).

Pallbearers will be Thomas Burmaster, Chandler Zimmer, Brayden Burmaster, William Gibson, John Westfall, Tim Westfall, and Charles Harrison. Honorary Pallbearers will be, Benny Frasher, Hubert Townley, and the Carmen and Mechanics of KCS Railroad.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to State Line Baptist Church Building Fund, Gideon's International, or Trinity Retirement Community.