Venette Burnett

Mildred Venette (Furr) Burnett, 86 of Friendship, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 2, 2025. She was born January 12, 1939 to the late Jim and Eula (Fisher) Furr. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Larry Burnett, an infant granddaughter Holly Nichole Ulmer, sister Bobbie Rishell, and brothers Buddy Furr, Russell Furr and Hoy Furr. She is survived by son, Michael (Vickie) Burnett of Friendship, and four daughters, June (Eugene) Jones of Little Rock, Diana (James) Boyce of Curtis, Susan Abrahamsen of Hot Springs, Mira (Kenneth) Jerry of Smackover; her eight grandchildren, Amber Venette Moore, Wesley Boyce, Brittany Thurlkill, Sara Crangle, Zachary Burnett, Randy Jerry, Phoebe Hamilton, Trent Ulmer; and her ten beloved great grandchildren. She is also survived by brothers Wayne Furr of Malaga, Ohio and Wilton Furr of Friendship, and many other relatives and loving friends.  

She was a member of the Harmony Primitive Baptist Church of Donaldson. Venette loved her church family, our Lord Jesus Christ, and believed in salvation by grace. She was office manager of her husband’s business, Arkadelphia Sheet Metal for 27 years and retired in 2001. She also was a certified nursing assistant and for many years provided loving child care services in her home to a few blessed children of neighbors and relatives. She served as Friendship City Alderman for many years, where she was very active in community projects -- most notably her work on the development of the Friendship City Park. After retirement, she and her husband turned a beekeeping hobby into a thriving business and people drove for miles around to enjoy the sweet golden nectar they harvested and then processed in the “Honey House.” She gifted many a jar of honey to friends and family over the years. She was a very talented seamstress and quilter and found great joy in tending her vegetable and flower gardens. 

 Though many people called her Venette, she was known by family and close friends by her favored nickname of Net, Aunt Net, and Mamaw Net. She was passionate about her time with family -- loved family gatherings at the Honey House and the Burnett family vacations were highlights for her. Her favorite summer activity was swimming with the grandchildren and also watching them play in the creek that runs at the back of the homeplace property. She reminded her family often that she loved them “unconditionally.” She moved through life with humble grace, never meeting a stranger and leaving a legacy of compassion for others.  

Services will be at 10:00 am, Wednesday, March 5, at the Harmony Primitive Baptist Church in Donaldson with Elder Neil Phelan, Jr. officiating, assisted by Elder Daniel Samons. Burial is to follow at Gilchrist Cemetery in Friendship. Visitation will be Tuesday evening, 5:00 – 7:00 pm at Ruggles-Wilcox Chapel of the Smith Family Funeral Home of Arkadelphia. Grandsons will serve as Pallbearers; Deacons of Harmony Church will serve as Honorary Pallbearers. 

 Memorials may be made to Harmony Primitive Baptist Church, 413 N Front St, Donaldson, AR 71941.

Arrangements by Smith Family Funeral Home/ Ruggles Wilcox Chapel, 517 Clay Street, Arkadelphia, AR 71923.  www.smithfamilycares.com