Eula Rae Burris

In the early hours of Thursday, January 29, 2026, Mrs. Eula Rae Burris departed this life and was welcomed into the arms of her Savior and King.

Rae lived eighty-nine years on this earth; born on March 5, 1936, at the Davis Hospital in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. She was raised in McGehee, Arkansas from the age of four where she enjoyed a happy childhood with her parents Rollie and Dorthy Blankinship and her brother Tom. Upon graduation from McGehee High School, she enrolled in the University of Arkansas where she performed in the marching band as a majorette and earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. There she also met her husband John sitting behind her in a freshman class.

The young couple moved to Northeast Arkansas, ultimately settling in Pocahontas where she raised three children. She taught in the Pocahontas schools for many years where she made a lasting impact on her students. Rae testified that she came to know the Lord Jesus as her personal savior at the age of 37 and spent the remainder of her life sharing this good news whenever she had the opportunity. Rae was a true matriarch of her family and an image of the Living God.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Tom Blankenship, her husband John Burris, and her daughter-in-law Karen Carlew Burris.

She is survived by her sons Brian Burris of Pocahontas and Scott Burris of Douglas, Georgia, her daughter Dawn Shults, and son-in-law Steve Shults of Pocahontas.

She is also survived by grandchildren: Daniel Shults and his wife Eden Shults; Zach Burris; Elisabeth Burris; Lindsey Wheeler and her husband Trey Wheeler; Sydney Miles and her husband Cornell Miles; and her five great-grandchildren Abigail Shults, Kali Miles, John Shults, Karvi Miles, and Kai Miles.

Visitation will be held Thursday, February 5, 2026, from 12pm to 2pm at McNabb Funeral Home Chapel with funeral service to begin at 2pm with Terry Miller officiating. Burial will follow in Randolph Memorial Gardens.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Daniel Shults, Zachary Burris, Trey Wheeler, Cornell Miles, Don McFall Jr., and Dr. John Bibb.