Wayne Burgess, 56, of Mill Spring died after he fell from a roof about 20 feet high Friday. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has ruled the death was accidental.
Emergency personnel were dispatched to the old saw mill at 3057 Big Level Road at 11:20 a.m. Friday. When they arrived they found Burgess on the ground, unresponsive.
Capt. Chadd Murray of the sheriffs office said Burgess apparently died from head injuries.
Burgess, who was self employed, was given permission to take off the metal on the roof at the old saw mill, which was the work he was doing when he fell.
Burgess was a lifelong resident of Polk County and was a member of Coopers Gap Baptist Church. He was known to many as a helpful friend and volunteer work with his church.
He is survived by his wife Kay, sister, Doris Burgess Ford, a nephew, stepson, stepdaughter and granddaughter.
The family received friends Sunday evening at McFarlands Funeral Chapel in Tryon.
Funeral services were held yesterday at Coopers Gap Baptist Church, with burial in the Mountain View Baptist Church Cemetery in Mill Spring.