Tonya Gayle Burgess

Tonya Gayle Burgess, a resident of Burleson, Texas, formerly of Lubbock, Texas, passed away peacefully at her home on May 8, 2026, at the age of 69. She was surrounded by family and loved ones in her final days and hours.

Tonya, or Toni as she was known by friends and family, and Nini as she was known by her grandchildren, was born on October 29, 1956, in Lubbock, Texas, where she grew up and lived for the majority of her early life. She graduated from Lubbock High School in 1975 and went on to become the mother of two daughters while working full-time and attending night classes to earn her bachelor’s degree in Occupational Education from Wayland Baptist University in 2000.

Continuing the legacy of both her mother and aunt, she retired from AT&T in 2021 after successfully working her way from a business service representative in the Lubbock, Texas office, where her mother served as a union president and retired from, into business management and court coordination in the Dallas, Texas office. She was incredibly proud of her career.

Throughout her life, she enjoyed many interests, including horseback riding, dancing, karaoke, spending time with good friends, and crafting. Her crafts often turned into treasured family gifts during the holidays. She was also an avid lover of dragonflies, Diet Coke, crime dramas and documentaries, and her beloved furry friends: Charlie, her childhood cat, Katie, Sarah, and Doby. And again… Diet Coke. She even had a soft spot for her most recent rescue cat, Lil’ Bit, though Lil’ Bit did not always have a soft spot for her.

In 2010, she married the man she described as “her person,” Roger Burgess. They were best friends and created a life together full of fun, adventure, and free spirit. They loved to take trips together, including traveling to Hawaii, Silver Dollar City, and many road trips on the Harley. They dabbled in archery together and also loved spending time at campgrounds with friends.

She was the one you called when you were mad and needed to vent because she would help you cuss them out, between yourselves of course, and then go on to tell you to get over it anyway. She was always there, even when the world felt like it was falling to pieces around you. She was there to listen, to love, and to teach you by example how to keep going, even when the going got tough.

She gave her children and grandchildren a strong grounding. She taught them to love big, follow their convictions, and always be respectful. She never ignored a wrong, even if it did not affect her directly. She taught “her girls,” as she called them, to be the Olivia Bensons of the world, if you know, you know. She was extremely proud of all her grandchildren and the amazing people they have grown into.

From her great-great-grandmother down to her great-granddaughter Lillian, the matriarchal legacy that preceded her and follows her is evident. She continued that legacy and did it HER way, which was the whole point and the very lesson she was trying to teach us all: be true to yourself, do not let anyone make you feel small or less than, and above all, HAVE FUN, because life is too short not to.

Her family has lost a wife, mother, sister, Nini, and, most importantly, a fierce, strong, passionate, and highly intelligent woman who believed every person deserved dignity and respect.

She is survived by her husband of 16 years, Roger Burgess of Burleson, Texas; daughter Farrah and husband Kevin Henley of Dayton, Texas; daughter Lacey Pilkington of Oregon; bonus-daughter Rachel and husband John Whitaker of Poulsbo, Washington; and bonus-son Brandon Burgess and wife Arial of Covington, Texas.

She is also survived by her grandchildren: Athena and husband Austin Hines of Katy, Texas; Demetrios Moutos and partner Lauren Garcia of Raleigh, North Carolina; Emery Whitaker and Reed Whitaker of Poulsbo, Washington; Gillian Burgess, Grayson Burgess, William Burgess, and AuLora Burgess of Covington, Texas; Kylee Roberts of Burleson, Texas, who served as an angel caretaker during Toni’s final weeks; and Danny Pilkington and Summer Pilkington of Oregon.

She also leaves behind her pride and joy, great-granddaughter Lillian Marie Hines of Katy, Texas.

Her brother, Garry Dean Sims and wife Cynthia of San Diego, California; sister Heidi Woodward and husband Glenn of Sydney, Australia; and sister Marion Prisk of Clifton, Texas also remain.

She was preceded in death by her mother and stepfather, Raleigh and Reva Workman of Lubbock, Texas; her father and stepmother, Bobby and Hannelore Prisk of Clifton, Texas; and her brother, James Pete Prisk of Clifton, Texas.

A private memorial service will be held on the beach in Key West, Florida, where she wished for her ashes to be laid to rest by the water. For those who would like to be with us in spirit, the service will be live-streamed, and a link will be shared closer to the date.

For anyone wishing to honor her memory, flowers, cards, photos, and written memories are welcome and may be sent to 3002 Kindt Drive, Dayton, Texas 77535. These keepsakes will be treasured by the family as we celebrate her life and remember the many ways she was loved.