William Paul Burleson
1940-2024
William Paul Burleson was born to William Reed and Julia Margaret Burleson in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on Friday, July 19, 1940. Paul departed this life on Sunday, May 5, 2024 at the age of 83.
Paul grew up in Oklahoma City and enjoyed playing baseball during his grade school years and learning to play the French Horn in Junior High. He attended Capitol Hill High School and was student council president his senior year. All the high school student council presidents and officers formed a group and Paul was elected as President of that group. He was proving himself early to be a leader.
Paul attended Oklahoma Baptist University his freshman year, then he married Mary Frances Cherry two days after her high school graduation. They moved to Wilburton Oklahoma where he continued his college education, pastored his first church, and worked for the city road crew to supplement their income.
They moved to Edmond Oklahoma to attend Central State University and they both took jobs in downtown Oklahoma City as they attended college and Paul became the youth pastor at Village Baptist Church. Their first child Cherri was born to them. Paul’s first fulltime pastorate was Letha Baptist Church outside Seminole OK, and their second child Wade was born two days after Christmas. That New Year’s Eve the church burned down, and Paul lost all his books and his brand new typewriter in his office. The church rebuilt and was renamed to Trinity Baptist Church.
Paul completed his college education at OBU in Shawnee and began his seminary education driving to Fort Worth TX from Seminole and staying for three days. Melody, their third child, was born on their fourth wedding anniversary while they were in Seminole. Paul completed one year at Southwestern Theological Seminary while they lived in Seminole, commuting back and forth weekly. They didn’t have much money and Mary remembers putting Melody on her back and taking the two toddlers with her and picking up pecans and selling them to buy food, while Paul was gone to Fort Worth.
They moved to Saint Jo Texas for Paul to pastor First Baptist Church and continue his seminary education. He drove to Fort Worth from Saint Jo four days a week and completed two more years of seminary work. Mary continued her college education at a junior college in Gainesville. The Burlesons moved to Wichita Falls TX in May of 1972 and Paul finished his seminary education in Fort Worth. Paul graduated with a Masters Degree from SWTS on his 28th birthday. School was finally over.
Their fourth child, Brett, was born in Wichita Falls, while Paul pastored Fairway Baptist Church for four years. Their next move was to the panhandle of Texas, where Paul pastored First Baptist Church of Borger, TX. The last three churches he pastored were Southcliff BC in Fort Worth, FBC in Broken Arrow, OK, and Trinity Baptist Church in Norman, Oklahoma. He began a traveling ministry based out of Broken Arrow before moving to Norman, where he and Mary held Pastor and Wife Conferences. Paul also did Bible Conferences in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and other states.
Paul’s passion and love was to teach the Bible and make it relatable in life and help others grasp the beauty and joy of grace living. People were drawn to him, and it was exciting to see lives change as God’s Word was understood and embraced.
Paul loved to ride motorcycles and he rode for awhile before he could convince Mary to ride with him. When she finally agreed, they enjoyed trips to Colorado, Wyoming, Arkansas, and other various trips. When Mary couldn’t go, Paul enjoyed riding with Mary’s brother Freddie, and they took some week-long trips to the Northwest and CA. Riding was one of Paul’s favorite hobbies and enjoyments.
Paul will be greatly missed. He’s loved by so many! He is survived by his wife Mary of 64 years, his sister and brother-in-law Betty and Frank Coy, his four children and their mates, his 15 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and many more precious family members.
Family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m., Thursday, May 9th at Matthews Funeral Home. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, May 10, 2024 at Crossings Community Church OKC. To watch a live stream of the service please use the link below
https://vimeo.com/event/4287966/37045b40a1
The Memorial Folder distributed at the Celebration Service can be accessed here: https://istoriaministries.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PAUL-BURLESON-MEMORIAL-Friday-May-10-2024.pdf
Oh DAD!
You did it your way!
We are honoring your wishes and LOVE that you continue here in this realm through all of us!
Oh to HUG like you!
Oh to accept others like you!
Oh to laugh & enjoy life & relationships like you!
Oh to sing & clap & celebrate others like you!
Oh to contemplate & enjoy the simple things…
JUST like you did… and in my unique way… which you celebrated!
I love you Dad!
To Mary and Burleson families, The Maroney family sends our thoughts and prayers during this time. Paul’s personality was like a magnet. Many young and old were attracted to his messages of life with the Lord. I was baptized by him at 17, he married Kerry and I at 18. He was a true friend and pastor to the Maroney family. Paul was a strong leader in his life to the every end. He touched so many young adults and even the old folks too. He leaded them to be good examples of God’s work. Paul’s work here on earth may have ended on Sunday but, he planted an abundance of seeds into so many individuals Christian lives today. I’m honored and blessed to have known this man. He was also good looking! This is not goodbye but, we will see you later in heaven. Thank you Mary and the Burleson family for sharing your amazing soul mate, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather to sooo many who will alway cherish the memories of Willam Paul Burleson. P.S. I know there is a very excited person that rejoice when Brother Paul walked thru the gates of Heaven. KEN DALE MARONEY. We are here for you and we love you. Laresa and Kerry Don Maroney.
Mary, you and your family have been in our thoughts and prayers. It breaks our hearts knowing how much you loved each other and how much Paul will be missed. He was a special person and touched so many of our lives. He is rejoicing in heaven and experiencing the everlasting live we are all promised as believers and for that we are thankful. Sending our love Tricia and Glenda.
Mary
Without a doubt, I learned more about applying Spiritual truths to life under Paul than I have any other pastor. Usage of that continues. Even now, after Barbara’s passing, growth continues. I know something of the feelings you are having and I can tell you with assurance that you will continue to minister as in the past and in new and different ways.
Blessings on all the family.
George Clary
Mary,
Paul was a great teacher and I learned a lot from him the few times I heard him teach. Thanks for being such a blessing in my life. If you ever need anything please let me know and I will do my best to help.
Paul was such a sweet spirit. Billy and I love the both of you. He is with our Lord and rejoicing. Praise God! Mary, you are always in our prayers. Love you.
Mary,
As one of the hundreds of seminary students who had you and Paul as model of marriage and ministry, I am so grateful God led me to Southcliff. I especially remember his teaching us men about walking with Christ and loving our wives . I also remember him laughing in the pulpit and telling us the waders he had chosen to baptize with had a hole in them. His transparency in the pulpit was a great model to me, as well as his assurance that Christ was working out his abundance in us.
Love in Christ,
Steve Fenlon (Kathy)
Outside of my wife & life partner for 46 years, Fran Hardin Ruth, there is no other human being that has had the impact on my life than my dearest friend, Paul Burleson. He was/is the “real deal,” the most authentic, genuine man of God, a true “Kingdom Kid,” as he described our live in Christ, that I have ever known. I love him with all my heart. I was privileged by a Sovereign God to experience my early Christian journey under Paul’s guidance while he & dear Mary pastored Fairway Baptist Church in Wichita Falls, Texas. I would never have connected to the local church if it had not been for Paul’s leadership; of that I am absolutely certain. Brother Paul was the best preacher/teacher of God’s Word that I have ever heard. This world, & the countless believers in Christ that have experienced William Paul Burleson, the man &/or his ministry; are simply better for the results they have received. Paul was always there when I needed him the most! Heavenly Father, thank You for giving to us Paul. Mary, Cherri, Wade, Melody, & Brett; thank you for sharing him with us all. May God’s Grace be showered upon you all
Brother Paul had a massive influence on my life. My High School years were shaped by Paul B’s teaching ministry and Paul Purifoy discipling me. So many of the things he taught, I still remember and constantly apply. He is one of the key mentors in my life.
What a legacy of belief and an example of living out the gospel. Of course, I’m praying for the Burleson family during this time of grieving, but, of course, this sadness is subsumed by joy as we think of his warm welcome into Eternity. Hallelujah, what a Savior!!
Just you wait Bro Paul. I’m on my way. I’m looking forward to seeing you and speaking to you again. Let’s hang out for eternity!!