Rev. Donald Burk Sullivan, “Child of the King”, age 77, of the Sullivan Branch section of Bee, Virginia went home to be with his Savior on Wednesday (February 3, 2021) at his home, surrounded by his family. Born September 14, 1943 in Dickenson County, Virginia, he was a son of the late Christopher and Ailice Lambert Sullivan. A lifelong resident of the area, he was a disabled coal miner and had been a transmission repairman for over thirty years. He enjoyed working on vehicles and attending car shows in his spare time, but his greatest enjoyment came from serving the Lord. He had served as Pastor of Duty Freewill Baptist Church for twenty-five years. His ministry was not only in preaching the word but in music as well. He loved to play his guitar and sing in church, and more often than not, he would share his testimony song “I’m A Child of the King.” He had a heart for serving God and others and was a member of Davenport Rescue Squad for many years.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of thirty-nine years, Kathy Mae Barton Sullivan; two brothers, Rev. Arthur Lee Sullivan and Roy James Sullivan; seven sisters, Mae Lovett, Beulah Farmer, Bessie Lester, Maudie Gay Barton, Evonne Stacy, Lucille Lester and Laura Breeding; two half-sisters, Rausie O’Quinn and Martha Lambert and one great-granddaughter, Natalie Wilson.
Survivors include his wife of five years, Christene Sullivan of the home; two sons, Donald Ray Sullivan and wife, Norma of Abingdon, Virginia and Christopher Michael Sullivan and wife, Sherrie of Gate City, Virginia; two daughters, Melissa Marie Wilson and husband, Dexter of Council, Virginia and Deidre Ann Sullivan of Bee, Virginia; grandchildren, Trista Buchanan, Jonathan Wilson, Douglas Wilson, Caitlin Sullivan, Tyler McGlothlin, Lucas Sullivan, Keaton Sullivan, Kaigan Sullivan and Jaxon Sullivan; three great-grandchildren, Dominic Sullivan, Chandler Wilson and Eliza Buchanan; three sisters, Arlene Fletcher of Honaker, Virginia, Delphia Wilson of Bee, Virginia and Irene Harris of Belfast, Virginia; several nieces, nephews, church family and friends also survive.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 PM Sunday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Robert Tiller and Rev. Donald Musick officiating. Interment will follow in the Ketron Memorial Gardens at Lebanon, Virginia.
Due to COVID restrictions mandated by the governor, a mask is required. The funeral service will be live-streamed on our Facebook page and our website for those unable or uncomfortable attending.
Pallbearers will be Tony “Bug” Rasnake, Clell Farmer, Bobby Hammons, Tommy Deel, Bill McGlothlin and Rodney Lester.
Honorary pallbearers will be Jonathan Wilson, Douglas Wilson, Keaton Sullivan, Jaxon Sullivan, Tyler McGlothlin, Kaigan Sullivan, Lucas Sullivan, Rick Breeding, Clifford Breeding, Lester Tiller, Jeff Honaker and James Lovett.
The family will receive friends after 6 PM Saturday at Honaker Funeral Home where an evening service will be conducted at 7 PM with Rev. Denver Barton officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Duty Freewill Baptist Church, 4815 Combs Ridge Road, Honaker, Virginia 24260, or the church of your choice.