Jean Burgess, 93, of Bradley County, Tennessee, entered into her eternal rest on Sunday, September 27, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family.

Born on April 27, 1933, in Charleston, Tennessee, she was the daughter of the late Charles Lee

"C.L." McAlister and Emma Lee McAlister, and spent her cherished childhood in the Charleston community. A gifted seamstress with an eye for style, Jean took great joy in creating fashionable designs for her daughters and herself throughout her life. She dedicated much of her career to the local textile and manufacturing industries, working for Hardwick Clothes, Inc. and the J.H.

Kellman Company, Inc. before concluding her career at Charleston Hosiery, where she retired.

Following her retirement, Jean poured her heart into serving others as a compassionate in-home caregiver for several area families.

A devout Christian, Jean was a faithful and active member of Lebanon Baptist Church for over 60 years. Her church home held an enduring, sacred place in her heart; she dearly loved worshipping and fellowshipping with her senior adult Sunday School class and serving through the Women's Missionary Union (WMU). She was also an active member of WoodmenLIFE.

Jean possessed a deep love for her country, a great love for the world and all people, and was a dedicated supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project. Above all, her life was an anchor of grace, steadfast kindness, and quiet strength for her family.

Along with her parents, Jean was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ray Burgess; her stepmother, Venia McAlister; her dear sister, Shirley Cross, and brother-in-law, Jim Cross; her infant brother, Junior McAlister; her brother-in-law, Don Goins; her precious granddaughter, Gabriel Elisabeth Bishop; her in-laws, Honor and Florence Burgess; and her special aunt and uncle, Jake and Onie Stevison.

Her memory and love will forever be cherished by her surviving family: her husband, Hubert

"Hootie" Steele; her children, Connie Cooke and husband Ricky, Elisa Bishop and husband Mark, and Brent Burgess and wife Carolyn; her grandchildren, Autumn Massengill and husband Lynn, William Bishop, Seth Bishop and wife Lauren, Braylon Burgess, and Bryson Burgess; her great-grandchildren, Lynleigh Massengill, McKinley Massengill, Tucker Bishop, and Colton Bishop; Hootie's children, Greg Steele and partner Angie Hurley, and Lorie Rymer and husband Chris; Hootie's grandchildren, Ashley and husband Recie Austin, Tate Trentham, and Grant Steele and partner Zena Holm; Hootie's great-grandchildren, Parker Austin, Isla Austin, Hallie Austin, Lana Steele, and Kiera Steele; her special friend, Kim Holmes Jones; as well as cherished extended relatives, dear church family, and lifelong friends.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate staff and caregivers at Spring Arbor of Athens and Hearth Hospice for their dedicated care, gentleness, and dignified support shown to Jean and her loved ones during her final days.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, October 1, 2026, from 12:00 PM until 2:00 PM in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home, located at Ralph Ralph Buckner Blvd, Cleveland, Tennessee. A celebration of Jean's life will be conducted at 2:00 PM following the visitation, with Rev. Tony McClanahan officiating. Interment will follow in the Lebanon Baptist Church Cemetery.

Ralph Buckner Funeral Home and Crematory of Cleveland is honored to serve the Burgess family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jean's memory to the Brain Injury Association of America (P.O. Box 7416, Merrifield, VA 22116-7416 or online at biausa.org), the Wounded Warrior Project (P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516 or online at Wounded Warrior Project), or the Lebanon Baptist Church Cemetery Fund (1411 Old Parksville Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37323).

The family is in the care of Buckner & Fike Funeral Home and Cremation.