CHARLESTON — Father William Clair Burn, a retired priest of the Diocese of Charleston, died May 29.
The Mass of Christian Burial was held June 4 at Blessed Sacrament Church. The burial was at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Father Burn was born March 11, 1922, in Charleston, a son of Lockwood J. and Louise Clair Burn.
He attended St. Anthony’s School in Easley, Ala., and St. Patrick and Mitchell schools, both in Charleston. He was a graduate of Charleston High School and attended the College of Charleston. He also attended St. Philip Neri Seminary in Haverhill, Mass., and St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Md.
Father Burn was ordained into the priesthood on May 26, 1956, by Bishop John J. Russell.
His pastoral assignments over the years included serving as assistant at St. Mary Help of Christians in Aiken, St. Anne in Sumter and Our Lady of Peace in North Augusta.
Father Burn served as administrator to these churches: St. Ann in Kingstree, St. Philip the Apostle in Lake City, St. Augustine in Union, Sacred Heart in Gaffney, St. Mary on Yonges Island, Sts. Frederick and Stephen Mission on Edisto Island, St. Mary Our Lady of Hope in Summerton, Jesus Our Risen Savior in Spartanburg and St. William in Ward.
He was pastor of St. Anthony in Walterboro and St. Mary Mission in Hampton, and a priest in residence at Sacred Heart in Charleston and St. John in North Charleston.
Father Burn also was a chaplain to the Charleston Home for Children, the Carter-May Home and the Veterans Administration Hospital, and an auxiliary chaplain for the Veterans Medical Center, all in Charleston.
In 1974 he worked as the diocesan archivist. Father Burn retired in 1993.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Blessed Sacrament Church Building Fund, 5 St. Teresa Drive, Charleston, SC 29407, or to a charitable organization.