ENROLLED
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 58
BY REPRESENTATIVE EMERSON
A RESOLUTION
To commend Luther A. Burney on the occasion of his retirement.
WHEREAS, Luther A. Burney was born on October 9, 1938, in Alto, Louisiana, to
Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Burney, and he attended school in Monroe, Louisiana; in high school, he
served as president of the senior class and the school choir and was a member of the mixed
vocal ensemble; he graduated from high school in 1956; and
WHEREAS, Luther attended Northeast Louisiana State College in Monroe, where
he studied music education with a concentration in voice and graduated in 1961; he was the
school's only student used as a soloist in the 1961 presentation of Handel's "Messiah"; after
graduating, he attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Burney has dedicated his musical talents in service to his faith,
working as a minister of music in numerous Baptist churches throughout Louisiana and
Texas; he began his career in music ministry at Ridge Avenue Baptist Church of West
Monroe, Louisiana, and served from 1956 to 1961; he worked as the minister of music and
education at Caddo Heights Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, while attending seminary in Ft. Worth, Mr. Burney served as the
minister of music and youth at First Baptist Church in Jacksboro, Texas; he served as the
minister of music and youth at Beckley Hills Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, until 1967;
and
WHEREAS, Luther returned to Louisiana in 1967 and joined First Baptist Church
of Lafayette, where he began a thirty-eight year tenure as the minister of music and
administration; during his tenure, the music ministry was composed of sixteen music groups
with a total enrollment of more than six hundred individuals from preschoolers to senior
adults; for over twenty years, he spearheaded large annual productions at the Cajundome and
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the Heymann Performing Arts Center, including "The Living Christmas Tree" and
"Symphony of Song", which featured nationally recognized artists; his youth choirs
performed across the United States and in Mexico, Canada, England, and Germany, and the
adult choir toured in China; and
WHEREAS, in 2005, Mr. Burney took on the role of assistant to the pastor and
minister to senior adults and served in this capacity until his retirement this year; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Burney is a charter member of the Centurymen, a group of
ministers of music selected by the Radio and Television Commission to record and represent
Southern Baptists; the group toured China in the fall of 1983; he was elected to the executive
board of the Louisiana Baptist Convention in 1988, and he was awarded the Distinguished
Service Award by the School of Church Music at Southwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary; and
WHEREAS, Luther is married to Marilynn McCormick; they have three sons, Perry,
Mike, and Chris, and six grandchildren, Lindsey, Erin, Korie, Brandi, Brandon, and
Nicholas; and
WHEREAS, Luther A. Burney is a truly inspiring individual who is most deserving
of the highest recognition for dedicating sixty-nine years to music ministry.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Luther A. Burney on the occasion of his
retirement and does hereby extend sincerest wishes that he continue to prosper in all of his
endeavors and enjoy good health as he begins a new journey in retirement.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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