Margaret Burks

1925 - 2025

Margaret Anne Hall Burks died on Tuesday, September 30th, 2025, at the age of 99 ¾ years.

Margaret was born December 9, 1925. She grew up on Castledale Farm in Woodsdale, North Carolina. A graduate of East Carolina University, she was very involved in the student judiciary, earning the nickname, "The Judge."

At East Carolina, Margaret met a young man, Leo Burks, Jr., just home after 3 ½ years serving in World War II. They were married in July, 1948 and moved to Kernersville.

Margaret became highly involved in local politics. She was the first woman elected to the Board of Aldermen in 1958 and served two terms. Appointed to the Kernersville Planning board, she served some 56 years and became known as "The Mother of Planning."

Margaret loved Kernersville very much. Along with others, she was involved in bringing the Presbyterian Church to the city, as well as the YMCA and the Kernersville Medical Center.

She and Leo had two children, Randy Burks of Kernersville and Barbara Burks Spears of Austin, Texas. She also had three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be at Pierce-Jefferson Funeral Home in Kernersville on Thursday, October 9th. There will be a viewing from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., followed by the funeral at 11. After that there will be a brief graveside gathering at Mount Gur for the burial.