Beverly Burns Flowers

Born June 5, 1947, in Commerce, Georgia, Beverly was predeceased by her first husband the former Congressman Walter Flowers, Democrat of Alabama, who died April 12th, 1984.

Raised in Eastman, Georgia, Beverly graduated from Mercer University in 1969. Beverly was the daughter of Frank Burns and Orene Mullis. She is survived by her brother Dr. Avery Burns and his lovely wife Susan of Isle of Palms South Carolina; her Niece Suzy Howerton and her husband David (Howie). Beverly lovingly remembered her many holiday celebrations with her cousin Billy Stucky and wife Ethelyn and their children Stephanie, Jay and Scott at their home across the Potomac in Washington D.C.

While visiting her cousin, then Congressman Bill Stuckey, in Washington D.C. in 1970, Beverly fell in love with both the city of Washington and politics. She soon began a career on Capitol Hill as a Congressional staffer and retired from the Office of Congressional Affairs at the Department of Energy in June 1987.

In the late 80’s Beverly discovered Ikebana, the art form of Japanese floral arranging. After years of study Beverly became a respected teacher and practitioner of this ancient craft exhibiting her work around this area including the National Arboretum. Beverly served on the board of the Ohara School an organization for Japanese floral arranging.

A lifelong love of fine art led to volunteering at numerous Washington museums as a docent where she conducted hundreds of tours for appreciative visitors. This volunteering included more than 20 years at the Corcoran Gallery of Art as well as later service at the Kreeger Museum.

In 2005 she was diagnosed with breast cancer, the first of four separate cancers over the following 21 years. Undergoing frequent chemo and radiation treatments during that time Beverly, with her usual positivity and cheer, referred to these difficult times as “the bonus round years.” Doctors informed her that they were out of additional treatment options in January of this year.

Beverly was a friend of Bill W. and on May 23, 2014, found the gift of sobriety. She then began twelve years what she came to call the “best years of my life.”

She practiced the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and shared with all her gifts of serenity and sobriety. She counseled and guided countless friends through difficult times whether the result of drinking, cancer diagnoses or any other crisis with compassion and love.

Countless friends and colleagues both in and out of the AA program came to visit Beverly during her month at home in hospice care.

She shared with all her profound belief that it was because of the AA twelve-step Program that she was able to live her final days “happy, joyous and free,” reassuring all that she was “ready for whatever is next.”

Leading an online AA meeting two days before her death, Beverly was surrounded by an outpouring of love and gratitude from scores of friends who marveled at her positive radiance. Sharing her personal and powerful connection with her Higher Power was her final gift.

Beverly lived an exemplary life of love and kindness. She lived her life following the guidance she found in the last words of the St. Francis Prayer.

In lieu of flowers please donate to either Planned Parenthood. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/ or The Unity Clubhttps://sober.com/aa-meeting/the-unity-club-group/

Francis Prayer :

“Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted;

to understand than to be understood;

to love, than to be loved;

For it is by self forgetting that one finds;

It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.

It is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.”