In 1987, Joey Burns, a Faulkner University alumnus, returned to his hometown of Grovetown, Georgia, to start the Double “B” Plant Farm with his parents, Johnnie and Barbara Burns. Burns credits his studies in biology at Faulkner—where students learn about the functions and structures of living organisms—as instrumental in launching the family-run plant nursery.
Burns earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Faulkner, then known as Alabama Christian College (ACC), in 1985. While at ACC, he was an active member of the Epsilon Phi Upsilon social club from 1981 to 1985. After graduation, he worked for Southern Growers in Montgomery, Alabama. He returned to Faulkner’s campus in 2024 where he was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award for the College of Arts and Sciences’ Mathematics, Science and Computer Science’s Marketplace Faith Friday Forums.
Reflecting on his time at Faulkner, Burns said, “It opened many doors for me and helped me find the path I needed to take to have a career.” Today, he runs the farm alongside his son, Joseph, who serves as the farm’s president, while Joey remains the owner and operator.
Burns is married to Rosalynne, and the couple has two children: Savannah and Joseph. Savannah, a professor in Faulkner’s English department and director of the Academic Center for Excellence, says her father played a key role in her decision to pursue education at Faulkner. “His love for Faulkner and the friends he made there encouraged me to check it out for myself,” she said. “To this day, people recognize me because of my father, and I am very grateful for that.”
Burns’ experience at Faulkner was shaped not only by academics but also by the university’s faith-based environment. “The professors were great and always showed they cared about the person, not just the student,” he said. “The staff had a large part in me staying true to my faith in God.” Burns’ commitment to his faith is evident through his lifetime membership at the Central Church of Christ in Augusta. One of his favorite Bible verses is Matthew 8:36, which reads, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” Burns reflects, “At 18 years old, I needed help to guide me to a point where I could accept this verse as the best way to live. We either believe this verse and act like we do or just ignore it. The staff and environment at Faulkner helped me get to the point where I could live like I believed this verse.”
The lasting impact of Faulkner’s staff continues to resonate with students and their families, passing down a legacy of faith and education.