Mary Burruss

BURRUSS, Mary Armistead Catlett, died Sunday, October 10, 2010 at Gloucester House in Gloucester, Va. She was born in 1925 and was raised at Timberneck in Gloucester County. Mary received a Bachelor's degree in education from Longwood University (then State Normal School) in 1947. She taught high school mathematics in Gloucester and Hampton schools until 1961. She was married to Alexander P. Burruss in July of 1961, then moved to Wappingers Falls, N.Y., and left teaching to become a homemaker. Her children were born and raised in New York and upon her husband's retirement in 1980, the family returned to Gloucester, where they built a home on Timberneck Creek. Mary was preceded in death by her husband in June 2007, and is survived by four children, daughter, Ann Burruss of Lafayette, La.; son, Charles Burruss of Delta, Colo.; and stepsons, Robert Burruss of Toano, Va., and Pepper Burruss of De Pere, Wis.; six grandchildren; and her brother, Charles Catlett of Blacksburg, Va. Mary was an avid Bridge player and was active in the Gloucester County Woman's Club for many years. Wherever Mary lived, she kept beautiful flower gardens and a large vegetable garden that brought her and her family great pleasure. A graveside funeral service, officiated by the Reverend Daniel O. Worthington, will be held 12 p.m. Saturday, October 16, 2010, at Abingdon Episcopal Church Cemetery. Memorial gifts in Mary's memory may be made to Longwood University Foundation, 201 High Street, Farmville, Va. 23909.


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