Sandra Lea Bullington Burt's Obituary
Sandra Lea Bullington Burt, 80, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on September 11, 2024. Sandra was born and raised in Martin, TN, where she graduated from Martin High School and was a regular on the beauty pageant circuit. One of her favorite childhood experiences, that she faithfully attended into her adult life, was the annual Wood Family reunion, a day filled with food, fellowship, and worship. She will be buried next to her parents in the Wood Family cemetery in Martin.
She attended the University of Tennessee, Martin, and was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, where she established lifelong friendships with her sorority sisters. The cutest majorette ever, she was known for her finesse at twirling the fire baton. She also spent time during the summer in Yellowstone Park working as a soda fountain jerk in the Hamilton’s stores and “hot potting” in the geysers in her free time.
Sandra eventually became a lifelong Memphian, earning her BS in education from Memphis State University, teaching initially in Memphis city schools, and then dedicating a 47-year career to the early childhood education of girls at Hutchison School. The connections she made at Hutchison, both with her students and her fellow teachers, resulted in the strongest community of friends and a lifetime of happiness and fulfillment. She was a joyful and giving teacher and was infamous for pulling the girls’ teeth. Even after her retirement from Hutchison in 2020, Sandra continued to impact the lives of children through tutoring sessions which brought her much happiness over the last years of her life.
In 1975, she met the love of her life, Rick Burt, and they were married eight months later. Together they enjoyed 48 years filled with incredible love, admiration, laughter, and joy. They began their marriage with daughters Cindy and Cathy and the fun and excitement only continued when their son Richard was born in 1981.
Sandra grew up in and loved the Methodist church and was a member of Emmanuel Methodist for many years before joining Christ Methodist in the 1980s. She and Rick were regulars at the 9:45 service in Seabrook Hall and over the last several years they loved listening to the Sunday sermons in the sanctuary.
Sandra’s passions were her family, friends, faith, and flowers. Sandra inherited from her mother an innate ability to create beautiful floral arrangements, and her creations brought happiness to people all over the city of Memphis. She was one of the hardest workers anyone knew, and her generosity of service never stopped. She was often referred to as the energizer bunny when she was decorating homes for the holidays or carting grandchildren all over the city. She enjoyed cheering for all things related to the University of Tennessee, but most notably the Pride of the Southland marching band. At football games, she arrived early to see the band play during the power T and would never dream of leaving the stands during the halftime performance.
Sandra loved to travel, and she jetted all over the world with family and friends. Some of her favorite travel memories were from multiple trips to Prague and other parts of Europe when she accompanied
Rick on business trips for Coleman Engineering. And she never missed a girl’s trip to the beach, lake, or mountains and would come home with entertaining stories of their adventures.
Her grandchildren were her greatest pride and joy, and they lovingly referred to her as “Grandmommie.” She was their biggest fan and cheerleader, and she never missed a sporting event, play, recital, grandparents’ day, or ceremony. Her grandchildren were the recipients of so much love and indulgence from Sandra, from the simple things like their favorite homemade powdered sugar donuts to the epic Christmas days at her house that she had spent months planning. These are memories that her grandchildren will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
Preceded in death by her parents, Thomas “Tom” and Clara Mott Bullington, and her son-in-law, Clarence “Scooter” Herrington, Sandra is survived by her husband, Richard “Rick” Carlisle Burt Jr, and children Cindy Crill Brewer (Kevin), Cathy Crill Herrington, Richard Thomas Burt (Palmer), and her grandchildren Benjamin and George Brewer, Finlay and Cooper Burt, and Clara Herrington.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 4:00PM on Monday, September 16, in the sanctuary of Christ Methodist Church, 4488 Poplar Avenue in Memphis, with visitation beginning at 3:00PM in the Church Parlor. In lieu of (her beloved) flowers, the family suggests donations to Hutchison School, Christ Methodist Church, the Wood Family Cemetery, or Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, as the family is so grateful for the exceptional care that Sandra’s grandchildren have received there.
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