Dr. Simeon Alexander “ S.A.” Burnette, 79, of Irvington, Va. passed away August 8, 2014.

He was the son of the late Lucy Alexander and Simeon Addicus ( Sim) Burnette. He is survived by his wife, Virginia Smithson Burnette; a daughter, Amy Lynn Burnette; and a son, Timothy Alexander Burnette ( Sharron).

Dr. Burnette was a native of Sandston, Va. He graduated from Highland Springs High School and obtained his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in chemical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Early in his career as a scientist, he conducted research in the combustion of heavy fuels, solid rocket propellants, and spun bonded fibers for industry leaders including Esso Research and Engineering, Hercules Powder Company, and DuPont Fibers. In 1965, he left the laboratory to pursue an interest in technical education and became director of Roanoke Technical Institute, today’s Virginia Western Community College. After his tenure at “ Roanoke Tech”, he was named founding president of Central Virginia Community College, Lynchburg, Va. Five years later, he accepted the position of Vice Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System. Dr. Burnette became president of J. Sargent Reynolds Community College in April 1976 and served in that position for 26 years. Under his leadership, Reynolds grew to become the largest community college in the Commonwealth with three campuses across central Virginia. For his outstanding leadership, Reynolds Community College dedicated the first building ever constructed on the college’s Parham Road Campus in his honor and the College Board awarded him President Emeritus status. In 2007, Central Virginia Community College also bestowed upon him the title President Emeritus. Family and friends established the S.A. Burnette Scholarship with the J. Sargent Reynolds Community College Education Foundation in 2002 as an endowment to provide ongoing financial support for deserving Reynolds’ students. Dr. Burnette retired from the Virginia Army National Guard with the rank of Major.

Memorial services will be held 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 13, 2014 at Kilmarnock United Methodist Church, Kilmarnock, Va.

Memorial contributions may be made to the JSRCC Educational Foundation, P.O. Box 26924, Richmond, VA 23286-9243.