Bobby Burns

AAC board welcomes White County Justice of the Peace

Story by Sarah Perry Communications Coordinator

White County Justice of the Peace Bobby Burns has lived a life focused on serving others. Along with working at a funeral home for numerous years, Burns has served the residents of White County as justice of the peace. In his newest form of service, he will be a member of the Association of Arkansas Counties (AAC) Board of Directors. Burns was elected to serve on the board alongside fellow Justice of the Peace Tommy Young, of Jackson County, during a recent meeting of the Arkansas Association of Quorum Courts (AAQC).

Burns, originally from Lonoke County, has lived in White County for more than four decades. After attending school in Carlisle, he attended Arkansas State University-Beebe for two years. He then furthered his education at the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science in Louisville.

Burns’ interest in working at a funeral home began at a young age. When he was a teen, people would often die at home. Friends and family would come to the home to support each other while they waited for funeral home staff to arrive. He recalls going to a home with his parents when he was around 12 or 13 years old after a man’s death. Burns told his parents on the way home that he wanted to be “a funeral man.”

“Almost 20 years later, I went to work for the owner of the funeral home that came out that night,” he said.

Burns worked at Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home in various capacities for more than 40 years and also served as deputy coroner.

He feels his work was a ministry to assist families during a difficult time.

“When you meet people in dire situations and really sad times and you help them through … you make a lifelong friend,” he said. “It makes you feel good that you’re able to help somebody.”

During his career, Burns served three terms on the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, and he is a past president of the Arkansas Funeral Directors Association.

Burns briefly served on the Beebe City Council before a move made him ineligible for the seat.

He decided to run for the White County Quorum Court more than 10 years ago because he enjoyed being involved in his community, and he felt that some county residents were not being represented well.

“I felt like some areas at the time maybe weren’t being addressed,” he said.

As he begins his seventh term this year, Burns said he has always been an advocate of being good stewards of taxpayers’ money. He also thinks it is important for the county to have good law enforcement and good roads.

“I tried to advocate for that and for using taxpayers’ dollars for those type projects … to make sure we have good law enforcement and our roads are maintained,” he said.

During his last two terms, he has served on the Budget and Finance Committee.

“It’s an honor for me to represent the people of White County. I think it’s one of the best counties in the state,” he said.

Burns, who has served on the AAQC’s 75-member governing body and AAQC’s 12-member executive board for over 10 years, said he was excited to see lots of new faces at the body’s meeting in April. www.naco.org

When asked about serving on the AAC board, Burns said he hopes to represent his fellow justices of the peace and the residents of White County well.

“For any decision that needs to be made, I hope I can do so prayerfully and be a good representative from White County,” he said.

As the newest member on the board, Burns plans to listen and digest lots of information, as well as step in to assist when and where he can.

Burns and his wife of 29 years, Ruby, have four children, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

In his free time, he enjoys playing bluegrass music. For a number of years, he was a member of a gospel bluegrass band and tries to play any chance he can get.

“Where there’s a group, I’m going to go out and find them,” he said.

He even showed off his talents when he performed alongside former Sen. Jason Rapert at the AAQC’s 75-member governing body meeting in 2019.

Along with pickin’ and grinnin’, Burns said he enjoys being outside and is an avid gardener. He maintains three large garden beds.

About NACo – The Voice of America’s Counties National Association of Counties (NACo) is the only national organization that represents county governments in the U.S. NACo provides essential services to the nation’s 3,068 counties. NACo advances issues with a unified voice before the federal government, improves the public’s understanding of county government, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research and provides value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money.