Burnice Lucille Jones Morgan Victory, peacefully passed into eternity to be with her precious Savior, Wednesday, August 8, 2018 at the age of 89 with her daughters Pat and Phyllis, friends, and the Aspire staff by her side. In the days prior to her death Burnice, known as Granny, to her family and friends alike, was visited by many to hold her hands, love and laugh with her and her daughters, and to say their goodbyes. Several of her out of town family members, including her daughter, Pam expressed their love to her through phone calls and video chats.
Burnice was born to Ida Mae Hutchins Jones and James Grady Jones on October 6, 1928 in Phil Campbell, Alabama. As the daughter of sharecroppers, she spent many long days working in the garden, where even as a toddler, she helped pick cotton.
Burnice graduated from Phil Campbell High School in 1947, and promptly moved to Birmingham with her cousin, Netti, to pursue many “big city” adventures. There she meet her future sister-in-law, Nella Jean Morgan and one of her best friends, who introduced her to her brother, William “Bill” R. Morgan, Jr. Burnice and Bill quickly fell in love and married just four weeks later. They begin their married life in Westover and within ten years they had three daughters.
When the family moved to Mt. Olive, Alabama in 1963, Burnice helped build their house where she cared for her daughters and her frequently ailing husband until his death in 1970. During this time and in future years, Burnice worked long days, came home to cook, wash, clean, and transport her daughters to their many school and extra-curricular activities. She would stay up all night sewing matching dresses for her three daughters when they were young and made them countless outfits, special occasion gowns, and even suits for her husband. She always maintained a large vegetable garden, from which she canned and froze much of the harvest for the months to come.
In addition to her family activities Burnice was always involved in numerous church functions. Among her other duties, through the years, she served as the youth pastor, WMU director, sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, and cooked meals for church gatherings and for ailing or grieving church members, until her first stroke in 1983. Burnice was tireless in her service to her family, God, and others. She never complained about busy schedule which was always full.
In 1975 she fell in love with and married, Lamar R. Victory and they lived several years in Sumiton, Alabama where they were both involved in many church activities. Lamar quickly gained the love of her daughters and became known as Dad or Gramps once the grandchildren began to come along. In 1983 they moved back to Mt. Olive and continued church work and to love on their growing family.
The Victory’s loved traveling by car together and made many long road trips as well as day trips before she suffered a stroke in 2013. God blessed them with many joyful moments during their 43 years of marriage.
Burnice also enjoyed gardening, reading, word puzzles, sewing, and loved doting on her grandchildren and she was most recently blessed with a great-great granddaughter. In short, as one friend said, she lived, she loved, she laughed.
Burnice was preceded in death by her parents, Ida Mae and Grady Jones; a brother, James Cleburn Jones; a sister, Martha Nell Jones Robles, her first husband, William R. Morgan, Jr.; and a step-daughter, Shirley Morgan Long.
Burnice is survived by her husband, Lamar Victory; three daughters, Pam Sullivan of Gulf Shores, Alabama, Pat Frazier (Richard) of Mt. Olive, Alabama, and Phyllis Simpson (Dan) of Pell City, Alabama; a brother, Davis "Sam" Jones (Judie); 12 grandchildren, Tim Frazier (Sarah), Joshua Fraizer (Katie), Stephanie Roether (Jeff), Gary Sullivan (Tayler), Christie Werner (Clark), J.D. Lott (Brittany), Alice Holtzclaw, Beth Long, Matt Long, Andy Long, Spencer Simpson (Marcy), Robbie Simpson (Caralie); 14 great grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; many other family members and a host of friends.
Services for the celebration of her life will be held at Ridout’s Gardendale Chapel on Monday, August 13, 2018, with a visitation to begin at 12:00noon; Celebration of Life service at 2:00pm followed by her burial in Mt. Olive Cemetery, Mt. Olive, Alabama.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her honor for the Missions at First Baptist Church Mt. Olive.
The family extends sincere love and appreciation for the caring staff of Aspire Rehab Facility in Hoover, Alabama, the staff of Comfort Care Hospice, and the many prayers, visits and support of our many, many friends.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18