Mildred G. Burno

On March 26, 2024, at the young age of 97, our Beautiful Black Angel, Mildred G. Burno was summoned by God to join His host of Angels in heaven where her Heavenly Halo will be presented. Mildred was born August 29, 1926 in Hartsville, South Carolina to Roland Burno and Elizabeth Pough Burno. Both of her parents preceded her in death. Little did they know that their Beautiful Baby Girl would grow up to be a Beautiful Black Angel. Mildred was also preceded in death by her brothers, Raleigh, Arthur, and Albert and her sister, Winifred.
Ms. Burno, known throughout Darlington County and beyond as "An Angel". Ms. Burno or "Mil" as she is affectionately known, mastered a multitude of Angel Roles that extended beyond her family. Her personal generosity, guidance, mentorship, and giving a leg up is endless.
The many ways Ms. Burno "Mil" came to the aide of others can fill the oceans, seas, and rivers, and they would overflow. In times of need, you could rest assured that Mildred would come to the rescue. Mildred can be described as a "One Woman Show/Organization/Response Team/Support System"... "A Hail Mary" "A Wing and a Prayer" "A Helping Hand" "A Human Prop for a Leg Up" A shoulder to Stand/Cry or Lean On" "The Go To Person "A Guiding Star" "The Wind Beneath (others') Wings" A Human Insurance Policy" where there were no premiums or repayments are expected of the Beneficiaries and no Riders. She was "The Saving Grace"; the Angel who flew in on her Wings to save the day.
Mildred lived her life serving God and community. She was a well respected member of St. Mary Parish in Hartsville, South Carolina. Prior to her health declining, she was very actively involved in all phases of church and community charity services with the soup kitchen and volunteering where needed. Feeding the less fortunate often extended to her kitchen table. As an active member of Alpha Pi Chi Sorority, her service to others went beyond her membership duties.
To ensure a good education for others, especially the children, she became a teacher. Early Childhood Development Teaching became the career Mildred chose. Her educational journey was her life's passion, and enhanced the quality of life, education, health, business opportunities, social development, and promoted social justice and racial inclusion for more people than we can count.
She was educated in the public schools of Darlington County and was the Valedictorian of the Butler High Class of 1943.Her college education was interrupted and put on hold when she answered the call to step up and raise her younger siblings. She later resumed her college education and in 1974 obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree at Coker College with Honors.
She began her Historic Pioneering and Professional teaching career at St. Joseph Catholic School. She was the first Black-Lay-Teacher that taught Kindergarten from the time the school opened to its closing. Because of Mildred's dedicated, educational advocacy, the success of St. Joseph School rested heavily on her shoulders, and she is credited for its success.
Mildred was the first Black Catholic on record in Hartsville. Her ability to bridge racial and religious barriers, and the respect and trust that the Black community had in her was instrumental because the parents were able to allow their children to be taught by White Catholic nuns. With family, friends, community, and beyond, the name Mildred G. Burno is synonymous with St. Joseph School and being an Earth Angel. Neither can be spoken about without the other coming to mind and into the conversation.
Her accurate, in the moment daily record keeping, from day one, at St. Joseph School and Church that was shared with The Darlington County Historical Society was instrumental in obtaining the St. Joseph School Historic Marker. This type of precise record keeping and her personal input as a member of the Black African American Cemetery Committee was vital in the cemetery receiving historic status as well. Both contributions place her in an historic category. Her knowledge has been sought out by former students writing term papers and books. People who were never prior students, but knew of her historic knowledge sought her out for assistance.
The quality and quantity of service to the community earned her a place on ¬ The Butler Heritage Foundation 2023 Hall of Honors. She has received numerous awards from her employer, the Darlington County Community Action Agency (DCCAA) and from the City Of Hartsville, that included the Keys To ¬ The City. She has received Angel Recognition Proclamations from Three Hartsville mayors making her birthday, August 29th as "Angel Day" and the week as "Guardian Angel Week". It was a proclamation from the city and The DCCAA Regional Office that led to the Law Plantation Head Start Center being named M.G. Burno Center in her honor as recognition of the growth and progress of the Head Start Program under her guidance and leadership. The DCCAA was fortunate to have her leadership and dedicated services for 31 years. A recent name adjustment to spell out her name, Mildred G. Burno Head Star Center gave personal identity and respect to honor the legacy of a Historic, Educational, Pioneering Black Woman.
For over fifty years, Ms. Burno provided free snacks to the neighborhood children, that eventually extended outside of the neighborhood, to the point that children were driven by the car loads to get the free snacks. It was learned that often times those free snacks served as a meal for some of the children. The free snacks ended as Covid19 safety precaution.
Those left to celebrate Mildred's transition from being an Earth Angel to joining God's Heavenly Host of Angels are her sisters, Marva Lou (Luis) Serrano of Norfolk, VA and Carrie Hughes of Virginia Beach, VA; her nieces, Rosalind McElveen of Hartsville, SC, Audrey Arthur of Virginia Beach, VA, Gloria Arthur and Pamela (Keith) White both of Norfolk, VA, Elizabeth (William) Williams of Williamsburg, VA; her nephews, Marcus (Veronica) Arthur of Elizabeth City, NC, Johnny (LaTreece) Arthur, Jr., Michael Burno, and Lionel (Rena) Burno all of Norfolk, VA, Marvin (Arnette) Burno of Timmonsville, SC, and Albert Bull of Worchester, MA, and a host of grand nieces and nephews, great grand nieces and nephews, great, great grand nieces and nephews, other friends, relatives, and her Pet Cat, Friskie!