Lona Jean Burkett

Jean Burkett passed away peacefully on June 29, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. With a smile that could light up the entire world, she was a friend to all. Her life was full, and she would tell you she enjoyed every single second of it. She was ready to go home to Heaven and reunite with all her friends and family.

Jean was born April 10, 1926, in Pensacola, Florida to Vera and Pugh Tidwell, Sr. She was the oldest sibling and was very close to her five brothers and sisters. She graduated from Pensacola High School in 1945 and went on to work as a telephone operator, a salesgirl at JCPenney and a clerk at the Naval Ship store at Naval Air Station Pensacola. She loved growing up in a big family who shared so much love for each other. Christmas with her relatives was one of her favorite memories along with all the Tidwell reunions and attending dances at the Cadet Club on the Navy base.

One of her girlfriends asked her to double date and she accepted a blind date with Ensign Robert John Watt stationed at NAS Pensacola. They fell in love and had a military wedding at the small chapel on base. They moved to Parris Island, SC, to begin their life together and went on to have three children. Their life was full, adventurous, and always filled with laughter.

After 18 beautiful years, tragedy struck the family, and her husband was lost in a plane crash. The family courageously pushed through, and Jean remarried six years later to George Frederick Burkett. The family was once again surrounded by love, togetherness and so many fish fries!

Jean was a bright light to so many. She constantly cared for others through all that she did from entertaining WWII members at the USO and Cadet Club and being a Red Cross Volunteer at the Naval hospital. She was also with United Ministries for more than 10 years, as well as a BraveHearts member and circle chairman and treasurer of United Methodist Women’s group. She was a member of Richard’s Memorial United Methodist Church for 70 years, sang in the choir and was a member of Bill Garrett 55 Class for 30 years as well as the president of that class for several years. Her current membership is at St. Luke United Methodist Church, and she was a proud member of the Wesley Memorial Sunday School Class.

Her love was truly unmatched and it’s evident in the large, beautiful family she leaves behind. She walked with a purpose in life, and she rarely sat still, if only to give thanks to God. She loved to bake and cook for her family and friends and we will cherish her recipes, like her coconut cream and pecan pies, that have a way of transforming us right back into her kitchen and into her heart. She loved to travel, dance, sing in her church choirs, play bridge, read, and go on cruises. If we could paint a picture of her, you would find her singing and dancing in her kitchen while the chicken is frying, turnips are simmering, cornbread (which she considered dessert) is baking and she’s mixing ingredients for a blueberry pie. In the background would be her family smiling and laughing and enjoying every moment of being with Mama, Grandma and Grandma Great.

Although she is no longer physically with us, she will continue to be our bright light and our guiding voice. Her smile lives on in her family and friends who were all touched by her gentle soul. Heaven gained a beautiful angel.

Jean is survived by her sister, Bobbie Gibson; brother Donnie (Mary) Tidwell; three children, Brenda Westfall, Barbara (Tim) Woolf, Richard (Lisa) Watt; grandchildren Kristi (Chris) Beckman, Sheree (Jason) Lombardo, Matthew (Corinne) Burich, Jon (Jen) Watt, Nick (Lisa) Watt, and numerous nieces and nephews and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her two husbands; her brother, Pugh Jr.; her sisters, Jitter (Ray) Johnson and Saundra Faye Stack; and her son-in-law, William Westfall, Jr.

The visitation will take place on Sunday, July 9, at 1:00 p.m. followed by the Memorial Service at 2:00 p.m. at St. Luke United Methodist Church (1394 E. Nine Mile Rd.) A reception will follow. The graveside service will be on Monday, July 10, at 10:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Beulah (5805 Beulah Church Rd.).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Luke United Methodist Church (https://stluke-umc.org/why-give).