Esther Magnolia Burke

BURKE, Esther Magnolia, 84, born May 20, 1924, of Love Isaiah and Mary Elizabeth Hurt, entered into eternal life on January 22, 2009. She was preceded in death by her brothers, James "Sonny" Hurt and Clarence "KooGee" Hurt, and her sister, Hattie Ruth Harding. She leaves to mourn with great memories her brother, Robert Leon Hurt, and his wife, Phyllis; her only child, Lawrence Burke Sr. and his wife, Jacqueline; grandchildren, Dane and his wife, Leslie, Lawrence Jr. and his wife, Tanya, Howard, and Erika; great-grandchildren, Daron, Rudy IV, Quiana, Neisha, Siliah, and Deveny; and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, friends, and neighbors. Esther graduated from Lunenburg High School, then moved to New York City to live with her aunt. She remained in New York for most of her life. During her lifetime she attended many different churches while always faithfully remaining a member of Springfield Baptist, Meherrin, Va. During her life she had many experiences and careers ranging from the hand painting and design shops in New York City to modeling. She was also employed by the N.Y. Social Services Department, The Board of Education, and the Department of Hospital Services from which she retired as a supervisor while at Queens General in Jamaica, N.Y. She remained in New York until May 2007 when she moved to Richmond, Va., enabling her to be closer to her immediate family. She loved to be the "Social Butterfly" reaching out and caring for all those she came in contact with. She was strong in her faith with God and doing His will. She'll be "oh so" missed by all who knew her and her infectious smile that could easily brighten your day. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at the Nelsen Funeral Home, 4650 S. Laburnum Ave., Richmond, Va. Services will be held at Springfield Baptist Church, 1784 Springfield Rd., Meherrin, Va., at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28, 2009, with a visitation to be held one hour prior to service. Interment to follow at the church cemetery.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.