Janelle Vance Burke, 88, died Sunday, July 21, 2019, from Baptist Nursing Home at Calhoun City. Born September 11, 1930, in Calhoun County, she was the daughter of R.E. and Margaret Doler Vance. She was a 1948 graduate of Slate Springs High School, and member of Shiloh Baptist Church. She was retired from working many years as Dr. Aycock’s secretary. In 1960, she married Luther Burke, and they spent 25 years together until his passing in 1985. She dedicated her life to her family and her church. She had a deep love for music and played the piano for over 40 years at Shiloh Baptist Church. Her favorite place to be was outdoors working in her yard. She was quite crafty and loved to make quilts for her family. She also enjoyed reading and working crossword puzzles. A beautiful soul that will never be forgotten, her memory will be cherished forever in the hearts of her family and friends.
A funeral service celebrating her life is Tuesday, July 23 at 2 pm at Shiloh Baptist Church in Big Creek with visitation Tuesday at 1 pm. Bro. Mark Longino and Bro. Jimmy Vance will be officiating. Interment is at Shiloh Cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers are Matthew Burke, Ethan Burke, Darryl Miles, Jr., Brian Johnson, Casey Prestage, and Kaden Pigg.
She leaves her daughter, Vivian (Keith) Johnson, Calhoun City; son, Vance (Kim) Burke, Grenada; sisters, Rosemary (Dan) Autry of TN, and Dee (Stanton) Howard, Derma; grandchildren, Melanie Burke, Mt. Vernon, IL; Ethan Burke, Grenada; Matthew (Katie) Burke, Mt. Vernon; Rachel (Darryl, Jr.) Miles, Leland; Brian Johnson, Grand Isle, NE; Stephanie (Casey) Prestage, Pittsboro; great-grandchildren, Kaden Pigg, Madison, Owen and Hudson Burke, Harper Miles and Harrison Prestage.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Luther Burke; sister, Martha Nichols, and brothers, Joe Scott, Clifford and Robert Vance.
Memorial donations may be made to Shiloh Baptist Church.
Expressions of sympathy may be left for the family at pryorfuneralhome.com