South Carolina Veteran and Lawmaker Thomas Moffatt Burris dies at 99

Obituary for Mr. T. Moffatt Burriss

Thomas Moffatt Burriss, Sr. passed away on January 4, 2019 at the age of 99. He was born in Anderson, SC, on September 22, 1919, to Frank Judson Burriss and Frances Moffatt. He had two siblings, Frank J. Burriss, and Jean Burriss Wattley, both now deceased. Upon graduating from Clemson College in 1941, he moved to Orangeburg and taught physics and science at Orangeburg High, where he met his future wife, Louisa Righton Hay, of Morristown, Tennessee.

When the war broke out on December 7, 1941, Moffatt was called into the service at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he volunteered for paratrooper training school. While on a two week leave, he and Louisa were married on June 22, 1942, in Morristown, Tn., by Louisa’s father, a Presbyterian minister. In May, 1943, Moffatt’s unit was ordered to North Africa to prepare for the invasion of Europe and would not see his wife again for two and a half years. Moffatt was involved in almost every major World War II European battle including Sicily, Italy, Holland, and Belgium. In Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands, Burriss’s company was the lead company in the famous Waal River Crossing and the capture of the Nijmegen Bridge. As a company commander, Captain Burriss’s part in the battle was portrayed in the movie A BRIDGE TOO FAR. For his service during the war, he received the Silver Star, three Bronze Stars, and Combat “V” for valor, the Purple Heart, three Presidential Unit Citations, French Fourragere, Belgium Fourragere, and the Dutch Lanyard.

After the war, Moffatt and Louisa moved to Columbia where he taught school for a few years and then went into the construction business. In 1970, Moffatt and his three sons formed Burriss Construction Company which was involved in major construction projects throughout the southeast. He was active in numerous civic and business organizations including the Executives Association of Greater Columbia (EAGC) of which he was president in 1964-65, a Board Member of Lions Club, Presbyterian Home of SC, Medical Missions, SC Lottery Commission, and as Executive Director of the Business and Industry Political Action Committee (BIPEC). Moffatt was a founding member of Eastminster Presbyterian Church where he served as a ruling Elder.

In 1976, he was elected to the S.C. House of Representatives where he served until he retired in 1991. He was elected minority leader for nine of those years where he was instrumental in building the present day Republican Party. In 1989, he received the “Order of the Palmetto” from Governor Carroll Campbell.

In 2000, inspired and persuaded by his children, Moffatt documented his war experiences by writing the book STRIKE AND HOLD, a memoir of the 82nd Airborne in World War II. In 2009, Moffatt was invited to Holland to participate in the 65th Anniversary of Operation Market Garden in Nijmegen. At the ceremony Mr. Burriss was recognized by the Queen of Holland and the Mayor of Nijmegen and awarded the NIJMEGEN MEDAL OF HONOR for his part in capturing the Nijmegen Bridge in 1944. Mr. Burriss celebrated his 90th birthday by once again parachuting at the original WWII battle site in Holland.

Over the years, Moffatt and Louisa built their vacation home at their beloved Lake Dogwood in Eastover, where he enjoyed fishing in the lake. They also enjoyed vacations in Montreat, N.C., where, even in his nineties, Moffatt helped each of his four children build their own vacation homes. In the early 70’s, Moffatt faced the toughest battle of his life when Louisa was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s Disease. He courageously cared for her until her death in 1986. Moffatt was later blessed to marry Jean Wheelwright Dooley, who had four grown children of her own, Richard, John, Mary, and Michael. Jean died in 2010.

He is survived by his three sons and one daughter, John Hay Burriss (Becca), Moffatt Burriss Jr.(Suzanne), Francis Burriss (Nancy), and Louisa “Weesa” Burriss (Bob Toomey); twelve grandchildren, Catherine Tuttle, John Burriss, Jr., Louisa Adam (Brian), Elizabeth Teal (Bart), Alle Denny (Chris), Lisa Thornton (Brian), Philip Prescott, Rich Prescott, Moffatt Prescott, Rachel Burriss, Thomas Burriss III, and David Burriss (Rebecca); and ten great-grandchildren, all who are grateful and humbled to have shared the life of this honorable gentleman.

The family would like to thank the staff at Lowman Home and Lutheran Hospice for their compassionate care of Mr. Burriss during his last two months.

A memorial service will be held at Lake Murray Presbyterian Church, in Chapin, on Sunday, January 13, at 3:00. The family will receive visitors at the church at the conclusion of the service. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family.

Memorials may be made to Lake Murray Presbyterian Church, 2721 Dutch Fork Road, Chapin, SC 29063.

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Obituary courtesy of Shives Funeral Home