Edna Mae (Harkreader) Burke was born at home on September 1, 1924 in Gladeville, Wilson County, TN to Sylvanus and Dora Mae (Patterson) Harkreader. She was the 6th child and the baby of the family. She grew up on the farm and learned the value of hard work from an early age. As a young lady she saved her egg money to go to typing school and become a secretary. She worked downtown for the National Life and Casualty company where she happened across the love of her life Edward “Eddie” Burke while he was here on maneuvers. After the war they were married and made their home in Nashville, eventually building their house in Hermitage. There they raised their only son Philip “Phil” Burke. Edna began working at Holy Rosary after Phil started school there and worked as a secretary/ bookkeeper for the church and academy for 54 years. She passed away on January 20, 2021 in Hermitage, TN. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Nannie Lou Brown (Joseph), Jesse Harkreader (Jessie), Sylvanus “Mac” Harkreader, Jr (Myrtle), James Harkreader (Gertrude) and John William Harkreader (Dorothy), husband Eddie, and son Phil. She is survived by daughter-in-law Virginia “Gin” (Robinson), grandchildren Rebecca (Javier) Soto, Philip “Ed” Burke II (Ali), and Rachel “Beth” Whitfield and Great-Grandchildren Kaylee Whitfield and Brandon Soto.
