Malcom "Sam" David Burton

Malcom “Sam” David Burton, 88, of Lexington passed away September 27, 2023, at his home.

A visitation will be Friday, September 29, 2023 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Davidson Funeral Home, Lexington.

Malcom was born July 4, 1935, to Milton and Mildred Grimes Burton in Thomasville, NC. He is preceded in death by his parents along with his wife Etta Sue Mitchell Burton, and his sisters; Elaine Reece and Patsy Pugh. He was of the Baptist faith.

Malcom is survived by his daughters; Vickie Cooper and Paula Haynes, brother, Larry Burton, grandchildren; Buddy Sechrest (Rachel) and Pamela Haynes (Mitchell Sowers), great grandchildren; Lilly Jewell, Malcolm Fisher, and Badin Tucker.

He was a man of many professions over the years.  He was a milkman for Coble Dairy, an insurance salesman, a bail bondsman, a mechanic as well as had a paper route with his wife for some years.  Most notably, he operated Sam’s Restaurant from 1968 to 1980 and retired from Lexington Home Brands as a nightwatchman. After that he began to buy and sell items at the flea markets.  He loved buying and selling items and meeting new people while doing it. Sometimes when he would make a good profit for the week, he would reward his wife and grandchildren with a bucket of fried chicken from KFC and say "The Eagle Flew!"

Most of all, he loved his family and loved to fish. Some of his most cherished moments were with his grandchildren, Buddy and Pam, on the water fishing or spending time with them around the house.  Towards the end he would always jokingly tell his granddaughter, "I think I'll go fishing tomorrow." Even though he knew he wasn't able to.  He also would ask his grandson if he knew what the best time to go fishing was, and the answer was always "right now".  He believed in going fishing as much as you can, because time on the water with family and friends is where some of his best memories were made.

Later in life he became less able to fish or even go to the flea market so his two daughters would look after him and his wife at their home.  During this time, he was also blessed with his great-grandchildren, who his daughters would watch at their house so they could be able to watch them play and grow.  He loved his children and grandchildren, but the way he and his wife grew to love his great-grandchildren was something even more special.

Memorials can be made to Central Baptist- Building Fund, 1347 NC-47 Lexington, NC 27292.

Another way to honor this man, is to take your family fishing and do it as often as you can.