Obituary of Sylvia Burns
Mrs. Sylvia H. Burns was born on Wednesday, October 22, 1930, to Ralph and Mamie Harkins Henson, second of four children, in Yazoo City, MS. She exemplified grace, generosity and was loved and admired by all who were blessed knowing her. She joined her Heavenly Father on Monday, October 3, 2016 at the age of 85. She was a member of New Hope Baptist Church.
She attended Isola Consolidated School where she met the love of her life, Lee Burns, at age ten in the fourth grade. Lee said when she entered the classroom as a new student, he nudged his cousin whispering, “I’m going to marry that girl!”
And, indeed, they did marry Sunday, June 6, 1948, beginning a family of three in 1950, 1955, and 1958, sharing their lives in self-employed businesses of insurance, real estate, income tax, and instructing courses to future insurance agents for Mississippi state licensing. She was a charter member of Bel-Aire Baptist Church, first pastored by her husband in 1965. Wife to a bi-vocational pastor Sylvia served as a teacher in Sunday School and Summer Vacation Bible School, secretary, and choir member. They lived in Indiana, Arkansas, and Florida; moving to Gulfport in March of 1958 when their youngest child Mark was only six weeks old.
Together again now, Sylvia was preceded in death on Tuesday, October 7, 2003, by her lifelong love, husband Lee, four months after celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary June 6, 2003. Her firstborn a son, Ralph Owen Burns, was killed in an automobile accident in Gulfport on April 1963.
Beloved Mrs. Sylvia is survived by two children: “favorite” daughter Sylvia Jewel Burns Ghavimi (husband Dr. Bahman Ghavimi of Athens, GA) and devoted son and caregiver for the past 8 years Mark G. Burns, with wife Deana Norton Burns of Gulfport. Sylvia took great pride in her family and bestowed unconditional love and support. She lived a rich and loving life with a positive sunny disposition, contagious smile and bright twinkle in her eyes. Her life was an awesome testimony of love, kindness, humility, courage, and a strong faith in Jesus Christ, her Savior.
She was respected for her grace, wisdom, patience, revered for her southern hospitality, baking, making large party celebrations happen; and loved for her generosity of spirit to listen and gently guide. She lovingly opened her home for celebration of special life moments of her loved ones with birthday, graduation, engagements, weddings, receptions, and decades of holiday parties. Planning detailed menus and decorations, she had a special niche making these occasions special and beautiful.
Four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren survive. Four grandchildren are: Dr. Lara Lee Eastburn (Drew Martin), Winona TX; Joshua Leif Eastburn (Jeanette), Troy, MI; Samuel Benjamin Ghavimi, Athens GA; and Lauren Ashley Burns, Gulfport. Six great-grandchildren are: Navi and Lafayette Lee, and River, William and Charlotte and Clare Eastburn. Siblings are: Alice Johnson, Yazoo City; Mildred Evans (James), Baton Rouge LA; and Paul Henson, MO. The family extends a special thanks to Shelby Townsend, Hospice Compassus, Notre Dame Hospice and Bay Cove Memory Center.
Visitation will be Friday, October 7, 2016 from 10 am-12 pm at RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport. Funeral services will be held at 12 pm immediately following the visitation. Interment will take place at Evergreen Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in her honor to Gideons International at www.gideons.org.
Mrs. Sylvia H. Burns was born on Wednesday, October 22, 1930, to Ralph and Mamie Harkins Henson, second of four children, in Yazoo City, MS. She exemplified grace, generosity and was loved and admired by all who were blessed knowing her. She joined her Heavenly Father on Monday, October 3, 2016 at the age of 85. She was a member of New Hope Baptist Church.
She attended Isola Consolidated School where she met the love of her life, Lee Burns, at age ten in the fourth grade. Lee said when she entered the classroom as a new student, he nudged his cousin whispering, “I’m going to marry that girl!”
And, indeed, they did marry Sunday, June 6, 1948, beginning a family of three in 1950, 1955, and 1958, sharing their lives in self-employed businesses of insurance, real estate, income tax, and instructing courses to future insurance agents for Mississippi state licensing. She was a charter member of Bel-Aire Baptist Church, first pastored by her husband in 1965. Wife to a bi-vocational pastor Sylvia served as a teacher in Sunday School and Summer Vacation Bible School, secretary, and choir member. They lived in Indiana, Arkansas, and Florida; moving to Gulfport in March of 1958 when their youngest child Mark was only six weeks old.
Together again now, Sylvia was preceded in death on Tuesday, October 7, 2003, by her lifelong love, husband Lee, four months after celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary June 6, 2003. Her firstborn a son, Ralph Owen Burns, was killed in an automobile accident in Gulfport on April 1963.
Beloved Mrs. Sylvia is survived by two children: “favorite” daughter Sylvia Jewel Burns Ghavimi (husband Dr. Bahman Ghavimi of Athens, GA) and devoted son and caregiver for the past 8 years Mark G. Burns, with wife Deana Norton Burns of Gulfport. Sylvia took great pride in her family and bestowed unconditional love and support. She lived a rich and loving life with a positive sunny disposition, contagious smile and bright twinkle in her eyes. Her life was an awesome testimony of love, kindness, humility, courage, and a strong faith in Jesus Christ, her Savior.
She was respected for her grace, wisdom, patience, revered for her southern hospitality, baking, making large party celebrations happen; and loved for her generosity of spirit to listen and gently guide. She lovingly opened her home for celebration of special life moments of her loved ones with birthday, graduation, engagements, weddings, receptions, and decades of holiday parties. Planning detailed menus and decorations, she had a special niche making these occasions special and beautiful.
Four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren survive. Four grandchildren are: Dr. Lara Lee Eastburn (Drew Martin), Winona TX; Joshua Leif Eastburn (Jeanette), Troy, MI; Samuel Benjamin Ghavimi, Athens GA; and Lauren Ashley Burns, Gulfport. Six great-grandchildren are: Navi and Lafayette Lee, and River, William and Charlotte and Clare Eastburn. Siblings are: Alice Johnson, Yazoo City; Mildred Evans (James), Baton Rouge LA; and Paul Henson, MO. The family extends a special thanks to Shelby Townsend, Hospice Compassus, Notre Dame Hospice and Bay Cove Memory Center.
Visitation will be Friday, October 7, 2016 from 10 am-12 pm at RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport. Funeral services will be held at 12 pm immediately following the visitation. Interment will take place at Evergreen Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in her honor to Gideons International at www.gideons.org.
Obituary of Sylvia Burns
Mrs. Sylvia H. Burns was born on Wednesday, October 22, 1930, to Ralph and Mamie Harkins Henson, second of four children, in Yazoo City, MS. She exemplified grace, generosity and was loved and admired by all who were blessed knowing her. She joined her Heavenly Father on Monday, October 3, 2016 at the age of 85. She was a member of New Hope Baptist Church.
She attended Isola Consolidated School where she met the love of her life, Lee Burns, at age ten in the fourth grade. Lee said when she entered the classroom as a new student, he nudged his cousin whispering, “I’m going to marry that girl!”
And, indeed, they did marry Sunday, June 6, 1948, beginning a family of three in 1950, 1955, and 1958, sharing their lives in self-employed businesses of insurance, real estate, income tax, and instructing courses to future insurance agents for Mississippi state licensing. She was a charter member of Bel-Aire Baptist Church, first pastored by her husband in 1965. Wife to a bi-vocational pastor Sylvia served as a teacher in Sunday School and Summer Vacation Bible School, secretary, and choir member. They lived in Indiana, Arkansas, and Florida; moving to Gulfport in March of 1958 when their youngest child Mark was only six weeks old.
Together again now, Sylvia was preceded in death on Tuesday, October 7, 2003, by her lifelong love, husband Lee, four months after celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary June 6, 2003. Her firstborn a son, Ralph Owen Burns, was killed in an automobile accident in Gulfport on April 1963.
Beloved Mrs. Sylvia is survived by two children: “favorite” daughter Sylvia Jewel Burns Ghavimi (husband Dr. Bahman Ghavimi of Athens, GA) and devoted son and caregiver for the past 8 years Mark G. Burns, with wife Deana Norton Burns of Gulfport. Sylvia took great pride in her family and bestowed unconditional love and support. She lived a rich and loving life with a positive sunny disposition, contagious smile and bright twinkle in her eyes. Her life was an awesome testimony of love, kindness, humility, courage, and a strong faith in Jesus Christ, her Savior.
She was respected for her grace, wisdom, patience, revered for her southern hospitality, baking, making large party celebrations happen; and loved for her generosity of spirit to listen and gently guide. She lovingly opened her home for celebration of special life moments of her loved ones with birthday, graduation, engagements, weddings, receptions, and decades of holiday parties. Planning detailed menus and decorations, she had a special niche making these occasions special and beautiful.
Four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren survive. Four grandchildren are: Dr. Lara Lee Eastburn (Drew Martin), Winona TX; Joshua Leif Eastburn (Jeanette), Troy, MI; Samuel Benjamin Ghavimi, Athens GA; and Lauren Ashley Burns, Gulfport. Six great-grandchildren are: Navi and Lafayette Lee, and River, William and Charlotte and Clare Eastburn. Siblings are: Alice Johnson, Yazoo City; Mildred Evans (James), Baton Rouge LA; and Paul Henson, MO. The family extends a special thanks to Shelby Townsend, Hospice Compassus, Notre Dame Hospice and Bay Cove Memory Center.
Visitation will be Friday, October 7, 2016 from 10 am-12 pm at RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport. Funeral services will be held at 12 pm immediately following the visitation. Interment will take place at Evergreen Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in her honor to Gideons International at www.gideons.org.
Mrs. Sylvia H. Burns was born on Wednesday, October 22, 1930, to Ralph and Mamie Harkins Henson, second of four children, in Yazoo City, MS. She exemplified grace, generosity and was loved and admired by all who were blessed knowing her. She joined her Heavenly Father on Monday, October 3, 2016 at the age of 85. She was a member of New Hope Baptist Church.
She attended Isola Consolidated School where she met the love of her life, Lee Burns, at age ten in the fourth grade. Lee said when she entered the classroom as a new student, he nudged his cousin whispering, “I’m going to marry that girl!”
And, indeed, they did marry Sunday, June 6, 1948, beginning a family of three in 1950, 1955, and 1958, sharing their lives in self-employed businesses of insurance, real estate, income tax, and instructing courses to future insurance agents for Mississippi state licensing. She was a charter member of Bel-Aire Baptist Church, first pastored by her husband in 1965. Wife to a bi-vocational pastor Sylvia served as a teacher in Sunday School and Summer Vacation Bible School, secretary, and choir member. They lived in Indiana, Arkansas, and Florida; moving to Gulfport in March of 1958 when their youngest child Mark was only six weeks old.
Together again now, Sylvia was preceded in death on Tuesday, October 7, 2003, by her lifelong love, husband Lee, four months after celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary June 6, 2003. Her firstborn a son, Ralph Owen Burns, was killed in an automobile accident in Gulfport on April 1963.
Beloved Mrs. Sylvia is survived by two children: “favorite” daughter Sylvia Jewel Burns Ghavimi (husband Dr. Bahman Ghavimi of Athens, GA) and devoted son and caregiver for the past 8 years Mark G. Burns, with wife Deana Norton Burns of Gulfport. Sylvia took great pride in her family and bestowed unconditional love and support. She lived a rich and loving life with a positive sunny disposition, contagious smile and bright twinkle in her eyes. Her life was an awesome testimony of love, kindness, humility, courage, and a strong faith in Jesus Christ, her Savior.
She was respected for her grace, wisdom, patience, revered for her southern hospitality, baking, making large party celebrations happen; and loved for her generosity of spirit to listen and gently guide. She lovingly opened her home for celebration of special life moments of her loved ones with birthday, graduation, engagements, weddings, receptions, and decades of holiday parties. Planning detailed menus and decorations, she had a special niche making these occasions special and beautiful.
Four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren survive. Four grandchildren are: Dr. Lara Lee Eastburn (Drew Martin), Winona TX; Joshua Leif Eastburn (Jeanette), Troy, MI; Samuel Benjamin Ghavimi, Athens GA; and Lauren Ashley Burns, Gulfport. Six great-grandchildren are: Navi and Lafayette Lee, and River, William and Charlotte and Clare Eastburn. Siblings are: Alice Johnson, Yazoo City; Mildred Evans (James), Baton Rouge LA; and Paul Henson, MO. The family extends a special thanks to Shelby Townsend, Hospice Compassus, Notre Dame Hospice and Bay Cove Memory Center.
Visitation will be Friday, October 7, 2016 from 10 am-12 pm at RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport. Funeral services will be held at 12 pm immediately following the visitation. Interment will take place at Evergreen Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in her honor to Gideons International at www.gideons.org.
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