Phyllis Marie Modlin Burgiss

Mrs. Phyllis Marie Modlin Burgiss, 81, of Thomasville, passed away on Monday, February 16, 2026 at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center.  She was born on October 16, 1944 in Bladen County, Elizabethtown, NC to John William Modlin and Nona Marie Nichols Modlin.  She worked as a childcare director for 20 years with the Baptist Children’s Home in Thomasville, as well as, owning her own childcare center in Durham. She loved children, cooking, crafts, especially crocheting, and the Lord.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Merlynn Shaw.

Surviving is her daughter, Susan Annette Lester and husband Thomas McDaniel “Danny” of Thomasville; her sons, Walter Eldon Burgiss, Jr. and wife Sherry of Archdale and Eric Christopher Burgiss of Thomasville; and her three grandchildren, Shamus Cooper, Madison Burgiss, and Colton Burgiss.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 3:30 PM at Holly Hill Memorial Park Cemetery with Rev. Bynum Orr officiating.

The family will receive friends on Saturday prior to the graveside service from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM at the J.C. Green & Sons Funeral Home in Thomasville.  Memorials may be directed to the Baptist Children’s Home of North Carolina, 204 Idol St. Thomasville, NC 27360.

Online condolences may be sent to www.jcgreenandsons.com.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.