Norma Jane Burden

Norma Jane Berry Burden, 89, of Virginia Beach, went to be with her Lord on February 2, 2025. Jane was born in Houston, TX on August 27, 1935, to Rev. H. Ray and Asa Hillin Berry, who were church planters. Jane placed her faith in Jesus Christ for salvation at age 7, became church pianist at age 8, and helped with children's Bible Clubs as a teen. In these years, she worked hard to win awards from the Bible Memory Association, memorizing much of the Bible, the foundation of her life.
She met her husband, Kenneth Dale Burden (1934-2021) while visiting the campus of Free Will Baptist Bible College (Welch) in Nashville, TN. They married in July 1955. Jane worked and learned resourcefulness with a growing family while Dale was in grad school, working, and pastoring. Personal study and Child Evangelism Fellowship training for Jane continued to develop her master teaching principles.
After several pastorates, the Burdens (now with 6 children) moved to Norfolk in 1965 for Dale, Preacher Burden, to pastor Fairmount Park Free Will Baptist Church. The couple started American Christian School in 1966 after seeing a daughter's public school "Winter" instead of "Christmas" program with no mention of Christ. Jane began a teacher-training class for Sunday School teachers who lacked Bible training. She resumed her formal education and graduated at Virginia Wesleyan 1978. The teachers she trained have been a blessing to many areas as the military transferred them. When they moved to Virginia Beach, the names of both church and school were changed to Gateway to reference this aspect of their ministry.
Mrs. Burden served in capacities "high and low": cooking for church dinners, cleaning buildings, counseling women, playing the organ, developing curriculum, presenting Christian biographies, and in teaching her first grade, teacher-training, and "Steadfast Ladies" classes until grandchildren renamed her "Mimaw" and widowhood renamed her "Miss Jane".
Diminished and unable to drive, but still spunky, she would say, "I want to be faithful to my church." She is loved in many churches because the seeds of her faithfulness have spread to many ministries.
Jane was preceded in death by her parents and brother, her husband, one grandson, and one great-grandson. She is survived by her son Barry (Kim) and daughters Teata Jones (Tim), Teresa Edwards (Rick), Kathie Riebling (Ken), Dayla Brooks (Eric), and Donna Thomas (Mark). She is survived by fifteen grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren.
The family will receive guests at Graham Funeral Home, 1112 Kempsville Road, Chesapeake, Monday, February 10 from 6- 8 PM. The funeral service will be held at Bethany Free Will Baptist Church, 2430 Azalea Garden Road, Norfolk, on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 with viewing at 9:00 AM followed by the Service at 10:00 AM. A committal service will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens. To leave a condolence to the family please visit Grahamfuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in her memory to:
Child Evangelism Fellowship, 17482 State Hwy M, Warrenton, MO 63383
OR Bethany Free Will Baptist Church, 2430 Azalea Garden Rd. Norfolk, VA 23513 To send flowers to the family of Norma, please visit our floral store.