At 3:33 pm on Saturday, November 13, 2021, 93-year-old Myrtle Doris Burke left Jacksonville, Florida for glory. When her heart failed, her soul soared. She was born in Rockingham, North Carolina on Sunday, July 8, 1928, to the late Mami Carter and James Albert Sanders. She has lived in her favorite place for most of her life, Wilmington, North Carolina. For 40 years, Doris has owned and operated a successful business that made custom curtains, quilts and accessories for decorators in southeastern North Carolina. Her beloved husband Robert A. Burke, Sr. and their son Robert A. Burke, Jr. (Casey survived) died before her. Doris is a devout Christian and loves Jesus very much. She is a loyal voter and fearless protester in every election. Many darlings of the rally carry her sign of "This 90-year-old is not a professional protester". The last thing she did on earth was to cast the last vote in this election, which was deposited in the drop box on Friday, the day before she left the earth. After talking to the staff that day, we came back to check and were sure that her vote would count! We know this makes her very happy. Her favorite hobby is daily dressing, makeup and perfecting hair. Fatma Hodzic is her best friend and her favorite "daughter". Donald Drake is so happy! In the past three years, his friendship has filled her heart with joy. Doris likes to eat fried green tomatoes, roasted peppers from Fatma, and chicken gnocchi from Olive Garden. She left behind three children: Linda Fellino (Vince), Melody Stephens (Phil) and Dennis Burke (Deborah); ten grandchildren: Mike Monaghan (Mark Lynch), Robbie Burke (Jody), Melissa Meadows (Chris), Buffy Water (Rob, deceased), Katrina Combs, Mi Sher Burke, Dennis Burke Jr. (Carla), Eltina, Mirella, and Harris Hodzic; twelve great-grandchildren: Megan Monaghan, Josh, Zach and Noah Burke, Taylor Meadows, Zak Clowdus (Emma ), Katherine Wagoner (Bryan), Kyle Crist, Jimmy and Phillip Combs, Israel Johnson and Kierianna Capps; and four great-great-grandsons: Heidi Bloom, Clementine and Archer Claudas, and Kim Slee Rose Wagner. The family would like to thank the staff at the Cathedral Gerontology Center at 333 East Ashley Street. They gave her the strength to stand up again and lift her high so that she can see eternity. Your kindness will never be forgotten. We are also very grateful to the emergency room and heart hospital staff at Baptist Downtown for their gentle and caring. The memorial service will be held at St. John’s Cathedral at 256 East Church Street at 10:00 am on Thursday, December 9, 2021, presided over by Pastor Gerald G. Alexander. Later, she will rest with her beloved husband Robert A. Burke, Sr. in the family graveyard at Seagate Cemetery in Wilmington, North Carolina. The service will be live streamed on YouTube https://www.jaxcathedral.org/st-johns-live/ The family asks for donations to the Blessings in the backpack instead of flowers, because this is one of Doris’ favorite volunteer locations. This charity Plan to provide food for insecure children at home on weekends and holidays. Our St. John's team feeds 100 students at West Riverside Elementary School every week. Donations may be sent to St. John’s Cathedral, marked as a blessing in a backpack, 256 East Church Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Doris hopes that you can do unexpected and active acts of kindness in her memory. (Family members require those who attend the memorial service to wear a mask.)
Published in the Florida Times League
At 3:33 pm on Saturday, November 13, 2021, 93-year-old Myrtle Doris Burke left Jacksonville, Florida for glory. When her heart failed, her soul soared. She was born in Rockingham, North Carolina on Sunday, July 8, 1928, to the late Mami Carter and James Albert Sanders. She has lived in her favorite place for most of her life, Wilmington, North Carolina. For 40 years, Doris has owned and operated a successful business that made custom curtains, quilts and accessories for decorators in southeastern North Carolina. Her beloved husband Robert A. Burke, Sr. and their son Robert A. Burke, Jr. (Casey survived) died before her. Doris is a devout Christian and loves Jesus very much. She is a loyal voter and fearless protester in every election. Many darlings of the rally carry her sign of "This 90-year-old is not a professional protester". The last thing she did on earth was to cast the last vote in this election, which was deposited in the drop box on Friday, the day before she left the earth. After talking to the staff that day, we came back to check and were sure that her vote would count! We know this makes her very happy. Her favorite hobby is daily dressing, makeup and perfecting hair. Fatma Hodzic is her best friend and her favorite "daughter". Donald Drake is so happy! In the past three years, his friendship has filled her heart with joy. Doris likes to eat fried green tomatoes, roasted peppers from Fatma, and chicken gnocchi from Olive Garden. She left behind three children: Linda Fellino (Vince), Melody Stephens (Phil) and Dennis Burke (Deborah); ten grandchildren: Mike Monaghan (Mark Lynch), Robbie Burke (Jody), Melissa Meadows (Chris), Buffy Water (Rob, deceased), Katrina Combs, Mi Sher Burke, Dennis Burke Jr. (Carla), Eltina, Mirella, and Harris Hodzic; twelve great-grandchildren: Megan Monaghan, Josh, Zach and Noah Burke, Taylor Meadows, Zak Clowdus (Emma ), Katherine Wagoner (Bryan), Kyle Crist, Jimmy and Phillip Combs, Israel Johnson and Kierianna Capps; and four great-great-grandsons: Heidi Bloom, Clementine and Archer Claudas, and Kim Slee Rose Wagner. The family would like to thank the staff at the Cathedral Gerontology Center at 333 East Ashley Street. They gave her the strength to stand up again and lift her high so that she can see eternity. Your kindness will never be forgotten. We are also very grateful to the emergency room and heart hospital staff at Baptist Downtown for their gentle and caring. The memorial service will be held at St. John’s Cathedral at 256 East Church Street at 10:00 am on Thursday, December 9, 2021, presided over by Pastor Gerald G. Alexander. Later, she will rest with her beloved husband Robert A. Burke, Sr. in the family graveyard at Seagate Cemetery in Wilmington, North Carolina. The service will be live streamed on YouTube https://www.jaxcathedral.org/st-johns-live/ The family asks for donations to the Blessings in the backpack instead of flowers, because this is one of Doris’ favorite volunteer locations. This charity Plan to provide food for insecure children at home on weekends and holidays. Our St. John's team feeds 100 students at West Riverside Elementary School every week. Donations may be sent to St. John’s Cathedral, marked as a blessing in a backpack, 256 East Church Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Doris hopes that you can do unexpected and active acts of kindness in her memory. (Family members require those who attend the memorial service to wear a mask.)
Published in the Florida Times League