Charles Cason Burris

Charles Cason “Chip” Burris, age 55, died on May 12, 2022. Chip was born on April 25, 1967 to Robbie (Cason) and Charles Marvin Burris.

Chip joined the Army after attending Columbia High School in Lake City, Florida. After his discharge, he began his career in the computer and IT world with expertise that spanned both software, hardware and business development and sales. In his last position, he was invaluable in building the IT and Technology support structure for the Global Genomic Medicine Collaborative, a non-profit organization.

Chip was a huge personality, an extrovert who was exuberant, enthusiastic, fun and funny, and also quite a bit of a provocateur, to put it politely. He made an impact on everyone he met. He loved meeting people, hearing their stories, sharing his own, and just talking. He had a huge talent for helping people discover their potential and making them realize it, however reluctantly. He was hugely supportive of his wife’s professional growth and their marriage was a truly a partnership.

He was an amazingly resilient person and his extremely positive outlook on life helped him overcome significant adversity over the years. He underwent two craniotomies in 2010 for the removal of a meningioma and a resulting infection, and a severe reaction to the IV antibiotic treatment for the infection. In early 2011, Chip survived and quickly recovered from a serious post-surgical stroke, with return of his fine motor skills through intense computer gaming. Despite these challenges you would have never known what he had been though by looking at or interacting with him as his personality never changed. He was always larger than life. He created diverse communities in which to have fun, meet people, and be the center of attention.

Chip was involved in so many communities in Durham. He volunteered at Fine Whines and Lickers during Adoption days, and, living at the Bullington Warehouse, spoiled all the dogs in the building with his beef jerky treats. He joined local photography groups to learn and grow his skills in this area. And, of course, volunteering as security at the Fruit to foster and help grow a unique, vibrant, and welcoming space in Durham.

Chip met his wife, Tejinder “Teji” Rakhra-Burris in St Louis, MO in 1996. Teji was attending graduate school and Chip was on his way to California. They were married in 1999 at her parents’ home in Vermont, in a ceremony combining Christian and Sikh traditions. They made North Carolina their home in 2001 and specifically Durham, NC in 2010. Chip is also survived by his parents, Robbie and Marvin Burris, his sister Susanne Dryer, and her children Ashton Artman and Adair Bosserman.

Chip will be interred at The Sanctuary at the Burrow in Moncure, NC located at 4479 Moncure Pittsboro Road, Moncure, NC in Chatham County. A graveside ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 11:00 am. A memorial and celebration of life will be held at The Fruit, located at 305 S Dillard Street in Durham, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following organizations: · Trosa (https://trosainc.org/) · Love Your Brain (https://www.loveyourbrain.com/)

· Fine Whines and Lickers (https://finewhinesandlickers.org/)

The Burris family is under the care of the Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Online condolences: www.hallwynne.com – select obituaries.