Billie Lavone Burns

Billie Lavone Tisdale Burns

Billie Lavone Tisdale Burns, 82, passed away suddenly, but peacefully, on Tuesday, October 26, 2010, at the University of Virginia Medical Center with her daughter holding her hand as she left this world.

Billie was born in Owanka, South Dakota, on August 29, 1928, to James L. Tisdale, formerly of Barboursville, Virginia, and Golda M. Rifenburg Tisdale of Owanka.

She grew up in South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado and Oregon. She graduated from Drain Main High School in Drain, Oregon. Later, Billie married William Burns, who served in the United States Navy and with whom she led a nomadic life as a Navy wife. While her children were growing up, she was a homemaker. When they grew up, she went back to school and after graduation; she began a career in nursing in Jacksonville, Florida. A dedicated nurse, she later retired from Martha Jefferson Hospital. She then went on working as a nurse part-time in home health care.

Those left to cherish her memory include her daughter, Sandra "Sandi" Burns Bennett Dulaney and her husband, James Fillmore, of Charlottesville, and Billie's son, William Jerry Burns and his wife, Eileen, of Staunton; and three grandchildren, Jeff Bennett of Elberton, Georgia, James and Kaila Burns of Staunton. In her journal she wrote, "Whom I loved all very dearly."

She had four sisters who preceded her in death.

Billie was an accomplished artist who enjoyed painting landscapes and still life, and had a passion for reading and flower gardening.

As she wished, her family has shared remembrances of her privately.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.