Home Going Service for Lillie Mae Carter Smith Burks April 19, 1918 - March 13, 2012 One Post Meridiem Tuesday, March 20, 2012 Stringer Street African Methodist Episcopal Church 1900 Stringer Street Dothan, Alabama 36303 Reverend Charles Atkins Officiating
Obituary It was in the church where she met the Reverend Timothy M. Burks he d seen her from a distance and remarked upon first sight, Whew, that s a pretty girl! She s gonna be my wife one day. A budding relationship blossomed and about four years later they were united in holy matrimony on January 6, 1941. To this union, four children were born: Gwendolyn, Jacquelyn, Carolyn, and Tony. In addition to her own children, Miss Lillie raised and mentored scores of children and young adults as First Lady at churches pastored by her husband and in service to the Moseley and Spann families, Wallace College, and ABC Academy. She enjoyed the blessing of longevity. She was married to her husband for almost 61 years before he was called home in November 2001. During her almost 94-year journey on earth, she worshipped God by serving His community. Miss Lillie s faith was more than attending church on Sundays, sitting on the front pew, or shouting and saying amen ; her faith was about a deep, personal relationship with God that was not bound by the restrictions we often place on God. She found the presence of God everywhere and in everyone; from the fruits, vegetables, and flowers in her garden that she knew by name, to the people she met in her walk of life. The year 1918 was brimming with hope and promise: Evangelist Billy Graham, songbird Ella Fitzgerald, South African President Nelson Mandela, and the legendary Ray Charles were born that year. In the spring of 1918, God saw fit to bless the world with a beautiful flower, Lillie Mae Carter Smith Burks, a hearty blending of African and European ancestry. She accepted Christ as a child and moved to Dothan, Alabama, to live with Irene Mama Pet Smith Williams, her adoptive mother. She welcomed people from near and far and she communicated with college presidents as easily as she interacted with the people of her beloved neighborhood. Miss Lillie was the First Lady of the historic Cherry Street African Methodist Episcopal Church. Her calling was to labor in the vineyard with her husband at small country churches across Southeastern Alabama, including Hines Chapel, Old Friendship, Grant Chapel, Saint Stephens, Saint John, Mount Zion, Saint Luke, and Saint Matthew African Methodist Episcopal Churches. Although her formal education was cut short in grade school, she was forever a student of life and living. She was endowed with the gifts of understanding and comforting people of all backgrounds. Her cooking skills were almost as legendary as her baking skills. Her cakes were the talk of the town whenever and wherever they were shared.
Her cake wrappings were distinct: one sturdy piece of cardboard deftly covered in aluminum foil. Moist, freshly-frosted cake gingerly placed on the silver foil platform and then covered with a solid sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil. Each cake whether round or loaf; whether chocolate or carrot was labeled simply as Lillie M. Burks. It s no secret that many of those who were given a slice of her Pound Cake would eat some Now and save some for Later! Her health began to decline after 90 years of honest living, loving, and serving. She was called from her labor to Eternal Rest in the cool of the morning on March 13, 2012. Well done, thy good and faithful servant. Mama Lillie s memory will be cherished by her children and their spouses: Jacquelyn and Calvin Erwin of Pennsauken, New Jersey; Carolyn and David Long of Dothan, Alabama; Tony and Sabine Burks of Winnweiler, Germany. Granny Great s legacy will be sustained by her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and greatgreat grandchildren: Karen Patrick Davis of Inkster, Michigan; Karl Patrick and his wife Taneen of Southfield, Michigan; Thomas Durdin of Winter Park, Florida; Oscar Page III of Holyoke, Massachusetts; Tony Lamair Burks II of Greensboro, North Carolina, and San Diego, California; Bryce Cobb III of Inkster, Michigan; Vashti Newton of Inkster, Michigan; Justice Durdin of Enterprise, Alabama; Faith Durdin of Enterprise, Alabama; and Bryce Cobb IV of Inkster, Michigan. Others who count it a blessing to have known Miss Lillie are her nieces, Barbara C. Philips and Dorothy D. Long; her nephew, Walter T. Jones II; her great nieces and nephews, Felicia Rattray, Andre Parker, Xiomara Rogers, Nicholas Shavers, Jasmine Brown, Eric Singleton, Anthony Rogers II, Kyla Rogers, Brayden Parker, and Christopher Philips Barrow; son-in-law, David Paul; daughters-in-law, Janice Potter Burks, Erika Davis, and Tori L. Adams; granddaughter-in-law, Constance Gray; members of the Carter, Smith, Williams, Eddings, Kelley, Anglin, Patrick, Page, Lee, Long, Jones, Burks, and Potter families; and a host of friends and loved ones. Miss Lillie was preceded in death by her birth mother, Sallie Mae Mama Sal Carter; her adoptive mother, Irene Mama Pet Smith Williams; her father, Charles Robinson; her husband, the Reverend Timothy M. Burks; her sister, Queenie Carter Jones; her brother-in-law, Walter T. Jones; her daughter, Gwendolyn Paul; her sons-in-law, Fred Durdin Jr. and Frederick Patrick; her nephew, Spurgeon Jones; and her great niece, Francene Philips Barrow. Miss Lillie Granny Great Mama Lillie
Order of Service Tuesday, March 20, 2012 Reverend Charles Atkins, Officiating Centering Lily in the Valley His Eye is on the Sparrow I Love the Lord Grandma s Hands Processional Song Prayer of Comfort Pastor Jerome Beechie Kelley Greater Deliverance Outreach Ministries Scriptures Old Testament Ecclesiastes 3: 1-12 Rev. David E. Reddick Presiding Elder, Dothan Eufaula District New Testament John 14:1-6 Rev. Samuel Smith Presiding Elder, Ozark Troy District Song Pastor Kelley Obituary The Lord is My Shepherd Cissy Houston with the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir Expressions and Reflections Family and Friends Song Precious Lord Sis. Lois Potter Barber Expressions and Reflections Family and Friends Song Don t Cry for Me Ms. Constance Gray Acknowledgments Eulogy Family Rev. Atkins Recessional Interment Gates of Heaven Cemetery Repast Stringer Street AME Church Fellowship Hall
Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. by Bill Withers Clapped in church on Sunday morning Played a tambourine so well Used to hand me piece of candy Picked me up each time I fell Boy, they really came in handy But I don't have Grandma anymore
Honorary Pallbearers Retired Presiding Elders and Pastors Active Pallbearers Deacons, Son, Grandsons, and Nephews Honorary Flower Bearers Order of the Eastern Star Church First Ladies Flower Bearers Carver High School Class of 1966 and Friends of the Family OUR APPRECIATION When speculation became reality, when good health transformed and hope faded, God granted us serenity and blessed us to have family and friends who gave us loving support, fervent prayers, and encouraging words. We are thankful for the flowers, cards, calls, food, and love you have sent our way during Miss Lillie s illness and our time of bereavement. We are especially grateful to SouthernCare, Sheryl Arnett, Wanda Barreto, Candice Caputo, Deborah Faye Covington, Constance Gray, Sherry Hughes, and Cathy Stumbaugh for their support and skilled care. Final Arrangements Entrusted To Harris Funeral Home and Cremation, Inc. 515 South Sixth Street Opelika, Alabama 36801 harrisfuneralhomeinc.com 334-749-6583 designed4misslilliebytlb2