John "Big John" Burkhead, 88, of Dyersburg, passed away on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 at Tennova Healthcare Dyersburg Regional.

He was a retired employee for Oldberg Manufacturing and also retired from Republic Builders. Big John was a member of Phillips Street Church of God, where he was a former Deacon and council member. He was longtime member of the Gospel Impacts Quartet. He was a United States Army and Navy Veteran, where he served his county during WWII and the Korean War. Big John loved his Lord & Savior, his family and his dogs. He also enjoyed walking, cooking, working his gardens and watching baseball and old westerns. He had special nicknames for each family member. Big John was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, friend and mentor.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Phillips Street Church of God with the Rev. Robert Davis and the Rev. Tom Burgner officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Dyersburg Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

The family will receive visitors from 5:30-8 p.m. Thursday at the church.

Survivors include his wife, Littie Burkhead of Dyersburg; a daughter, Yvonne Terry and husband, Andy, of Dyersburg; two sons, John Burkhead, Jr. and wife, Sharon, of Lyman, S.C. and David Burkhead and wife, Leanne, of Moore, S.C.; seven grandchildren, Jonathan Burkhead, Charity Bernard, John Eric Burkhead, Holly Ogletree, Julia Hudson, Jordan Wilson and Andy Terry, Jr.; and ten great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Myrtle Nelson Burkhead.

Pallbearers will be B.J. Hudson, John Ogletree, Andy Terry, Jr., Ned Bernard, Jonathan Burkhead and John Eric Burkhead. Honorary pallbearers will be Joel Enochs, Jr. and Seth Wilson.