Ramsey McDonald Burks, 78, retired banker loved currency

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By Michelle E. Shaw

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Any trip Karen and Ramsay Burks took, especially an international excursion, had to include a visit to the local banks. A banker for more than 30 years, Mr. Burks couldn’t resist visiting different banks and making a transaction or two.

Special Ramsey Burks worked in banking for more than 30 years and loved touring banks when he traveled.

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“He liked to walk in and look around a bank,” said Karen Burks, his wife of 29 years, who lives in Hoschton. “And if we were somewhere out of the country he loved to exchange the currency, even if we didn’t plan on buying anything.”

Ramsey McDonald Burks, of Hoschton, died Jan. 4 at Northeast Georgia Health System from complications related to lung cancer. He was 78. His body was cremated and a private memorial service is planned for later in the year, Mrs. Burks said. Ward’s Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

The youngest of seven children, Mr. Burks was born in Dyersburg, Tenn., and grew up in Columbia, Tenn. After graduating from high school, he enrolled at Vanderbilt University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in 1956. He then went to Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University, where he finished first in his class, his family said.

Mr. Burks took a job with the Trust Company of Georgia, now Sun Trust, in 1958. He was quickly moved to the bank’s management training program, according to John and Martha Woodall, friends and former co-workers.

Throughout his 35 years of service with the bank, Mr. Burks was part of the bank’s transformation from local to a major regional financial center. During that time, he was head of the credit department and spent a number of years in the management offices of the branch banking department, the Woodalls said in a statement. Mr. Burks also opened the Peachtree Center branch of the bank and upon his retirement in 1993, he was the manager of the main branch in downtown Atlanta, they said.

After retirement, Mr. Burks spent time traveling with his wife and researching investments, his wife said.

“It seemed like he had every magazine on investing there was,” she joked. “He would watch all of the CNBC and things like that and really study companies.”

Mr. Burks oldest son, Wendell Burks, followed in his banking footsteps while his other sons went on to be engineers.

“One thing I can say is that he taught us all to be self reliant,” said Wendell Burks, who lives in Alpharetta. “He was taught to stand on his own two feet and take responsibility for what he wanted to achieve, and that’s is what he passed on to us.”

Mr. Burks is also survived by sons, Stephen Burks of Huntsville, Ala., and Harry Burks of Los Altos, Calif; step-children Kim Alexander and Steve Wagner both of Duluth; five grandchildren; three step-grandchildren, and two brothers, Bill Burks of Pittsford, N.Y. and Paul Burks of San Rafael, Calif.