Barbara Mae Neal Burrus' Obituary
It is with the deepest sorrow we announce the passing of Barbara Mae Neal Burrus.
Barbara Mae Neal was born February 4, 1938 in Memphis, Tennessee to Merrill Calvin Neal and Madge Wyndham. Older sister to Alta. Her parents traveled a lot. Barbara would often joke about visiting 10 states before she was 10. She lived in Dallas and Chicago and often lived with different family members. Barbara loved spending time with her cousins. She had endless stories.
Barbara’s father remarried and settled down in Ridgley, Tennessee when she was in 8th grade. Barbara would recount found memories of cheerleading, working in Fannie Mae’s cafe and becoming close with her stepsister Ruth, who quickly became a best friend.
Barbara graduated from Ridgley High School in 1956. Shortly after, she moved to Memphis and worked for the Bellsouth telephone company. A few years later she would marry the love her life Benjamin Luther Burrus on January 31, 1960. The two were a perfect match. Balancing each other in all the perfect ways.
They welcomed their son Benjamin Michael Burrus on February 16, 1961. They welcomed their daughter Margaret Anne Burrus on November 12, 1966.
Eventually Barbara retired from the telephone company but she wasn’t done just yet. She went back to school to become a nurse. It makes sense as Barbara was always willing to help people. She became Director of Nursing at the Grand Court. Barbara would always tell stories about her time as a nurse and how much it fulfilled her to be there for others.
Once Barbara retired from nursing she dedicated everything to her family. She was a rock for her grandchildren, who were both named after her, Neal Hunter Lathem and Maggie Mae Lathem. She loved being a “meme”. Teaching them everything she knew and loving them unconditionally.
Barbara was so creative and crafty. She could sew anything you asked her to. She loved to find all types of sewing machines she could collect. If she wasn’t behind the sewing machine, she was at the Keno machine. She loved to play at the casinos. She always had a sneaking suspicion when a machine “would hit”. And of course…. She was always right. She loved to go fishing and to sit out on the water. Barbara could spend hours playing dominoes. And at the end of the day she would love to sit in the recliner by Luther and watch a Western or Hallmark movie. Even if she slept through half the movie, she always said she felt safe at his side.
Barbara was bright, witty and the most selfless person ever. She brought light to any dark situation. She was the matriarch of our family and held us together. We will honor her by continuing to be the most selfless and loving versions of ourselves.
“Honor her for all that her hands have done” Proverbs 31:31
Arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38119 (901) 767-8930. “Where Memphis comes to remember, since 1924.
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