Confederatevets.com

Dr. George M. Burdett was born in Wilkes County, near Washington, Ga., January 5, 1838, a son of James and Margaret McKinney Burdett, and the family is an old and prominent one in Southern Georgia. He graduated from the Augusta Medical College in February, 1861. In April, 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate army at Crawfordsville, Ga., and was made corporal of Company D, 15th Georgia Regiment, at its organization. The command was ordered to Virginia in October, 1861, and Dr. Burdett was made assistant surgeon and served on hospital duty with the 1st Georgia at Richmond, Va., remaining there for nine months. He was then assigned to field duty as assistant surgeon with Col. Snowden Andrew's battalion of artillery, afterwards Carter Braxton's battalion, Colonel Andrews having been disabled. Dr. Burdett was under Stonewall Jackson for two and a half years. His full service in the Confederate army was four years and one month. He was made full surgeon with the rank of major in the fall of 1864.

After the surrender of the Confederate forces, Dr. Burdett went to Leanoirs (now Lenoir City), Tenn., and was connected woth the Lenoir brothers' interests until 1890, when the Lenoir Manufacturing Company went out of business. He then resumed the practice of his profession. The call of suffering always found him ready and willing to administer relief, even at his own personal inconvenience and without compensation always, for he did a great amount of charity practice. He was a life member of the East Tennessee Medical Association and was known as a most efficient surgeon of the Southern Railway for eighteen years.

In June, 1873, Dr. Burdett was married to Miss Eliza H. Lenoir, daughter of W. H. Lenoir, and to them were born eight children-two sons and six daughters-all surviving him. Dr. Burdett and his wife were known far and wide for their Southern hospitality. He was a man of strong convictions and expressed them forcibly, yet his kindly feeling for humanity and his pleasant greeting made him many friends. His last years were happy with his children and grandchildren. Of the latter, there are seventeen.

After a short illness, he died on November 5, 1915. By his request, his burial was conducted by the Masonic fraternity, Avery Lodge, No. 593, of Lenoir City, of which he was a member. Truly of this faithful soldier and upright citizen it can be said the he was never found wanting in any relation of life.