Burnelle "Burnie" Brown

1943 - 2023

Burnelle "Burnie" Brown

March 14, 1943 - May 10, 2023

Burnie Brown passed away on May 10, 2023, as she finished her battle with lung cancer. Her two daughters were by her bedside and held her hands when she left this earth.

Burnie was born in Salem, NC, to Cecil Henry Harding and Gaynelle Crisp Harding. She grew up in Raleigh, where she met and married Stephen Hunt Brown. Burnie and Steve later moved to Auburn, Alabama, where she lived for the rest of her life.

Burnie's door and her heart were always open for friends to come for a visit or some "kitchen table therapy." She could pull together a delicious meal or a tray of hors d'oeuvres whenever a friend stopped by. Candles lit, music on, and always a smile to greet you.

Burnie never stopped learning, growing, and pushing herself. In her 30's, she and some friends bought a historic house in Opelika and turned it into a gourmet restaurant. The Greenhouse Restaurant was a local treasure for many years, where many celebrated special life events such as engagements, birthdays, and weddings. In her 50's she became a Master Gardener and turned her backyard into an oasis of flowers, trails, and koi fish ponds. She was also extremely tech savvy, and often coached her daughters on things like navigating excel spreadsheets.

Burnie is survived by her daughters Laura (Sam) Wheeler of Louisville, KY, Jennifer (Scott) Shepard of Brentwood, TN, grandchildren Lauren Shepard, Stephen Shepard, and Matthew Wheeler. She is also survived by her sister Sherrill (Johnny) Johnson of Garner, NC, her brother Cecil Harding Jr of Panama City, FL, and her nephew Randy (Tami) Choplin of Fuquay Varina, NC.

There will be a Celebration of Life on June 17 at Burnie's home in Auburn from 4-7 pm. In lieu of flowers, her daughters request that those who wish to make a memorial tribute to consider a donation in Burnie's honor to Baptist Health Foundation Palliative Care, who provided such loving and peaceful care for Burnie in her final days. This can be done online at SupportBaptistHealth.org/Louisville or by mailing a check to Baptist Health Foundation Palliative Care at 4007 Kresge Way, Louisville, KY, 40207, with Burnie's name referenced as the honoree.