Otis Blue Burnham was born September 1, 1929 in Columbus, Georgia, the son of L.R. Burnham and Emerita McAdam Burnham. He was married to his wife Eleanor Thomas Burnham for 66 years. He died on March 8, 2015 in Columbus and is buried at Parkhill Cemetery. He graduated from Columbus High School and Draughons Business School in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Burnham joined the family business, Burnham Van Service, working in various departments to gain experience in the moving business. He later became a partner, then an Executive Vice-President and retired as Vice-Chairman of Burnham Service Corporation, the successor to Burnham Van Service. The company was bought by Investcorp in 1988, and its headquarters moved from Columbus to Atlanta. During his business career, he served as President of the Columbus Movers Association, Georgia Movers Association, and President and Chairman of the American Movers Association, the National Movers and Warehouseman's Association, both national and international organizations. He helped form the National Institute of Certified Moving Consultants.

Mr. Burnham was a life-long member of Holy Family Catholic Church. He served as Chairman of the Youth Sunday School, a member of the Parish Council, Diocese of Savannah Finance Committee, Chairman of the 50th Anniversary Celebration, and a member of the Restoration Committee of the Sanctuary. In 1978 he was a recipient of the "Brotherhood Award" given by the National Conference of Christians and Jews. He served as Co-Founder of the East Columbus Boys Club, President of the Metropolitan YMCA, and in 1982 became Campaign Chairman of the United Way. He was a former member of the Board of Visitors for Brookstone School, member of the Columbus State University Foundation Board of Trustees, and before that was Chairman of the Board of the Columbus College Foundation. In 1970 he joined the Downtown Rotary Club and served as President in 1985. Mr. Burnham was a former Board member of the St. Francis Hospital, of the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley, and of the Board of the Pastoral Institute for more than 20 years. He served on the Board of the River Center for the Performing Arts and in 2005 he became acting Executive Director during the search for a permanent Executive Director. In 2010 he became Co-Chairman of the Capital Funds Campaign for St. Francis Hospital Foundation expansion. In 2010 he was King of the Mardi Gras Ball. Mr. Burnham was a member of the Board of Directors of the Fourth National Bank and Chairman of its Audit Committee for 15 years. He continued to serve as Director Emeritus of SunTrust West Georgia and Senior Trustee on the Columbus State University Board of Trustees . Mr. Burnham also headed Burnham Photography and the Burnham Family Foundation.