Lynn was born Sept. 12, 1954, in Columbia, S.C., to Erastus Gaither Bumgardner, Jr., and Trilby O’Neil Bumgardner. She graduated from WJ Keenan High School in 1972, where she was the editor of the school’s newspaper, and a lifelong career was born.
She majored in journalism at the University of South Carolina, where she graduated summa cum laude in 1976. Lynn landed her first newspaper job at the Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss., moving a year later to the News & Record in Greensboro, N.C. It was there that she met Dennis Burnette, and they married in 1981.
At the same time, Lynn became a stepmother to Dennis’ two daughters. Lynn may not have been their biological mother, but she loved and fretted over Kendra and Alisa like they were her own. Everyone who knew her was always up-to-speed on their lives and adventures.
Lynn worked at the Greensboro News & Record for some 20 years, most of that time as assistant features editor. She was known for her constant smile and ready laugh. Along with Cecile Holmes White and Sue Robinson, she was also a FFE (Former Food Editor), in the days when the features department had a staff upwards of 10 people.
A gentle soul at heart, she led reporters with enthusiasm and encouragement, and disliked the disciplinary side of management. Organized and efficient, she was always open to ideas and alternative approaches. She made the job look so easy that people sometimes took her contributions for granted. Below her gentle demeanor, she had a raucous sense of humor and could be a wicked practical joker.
After leaving the News & Record, Lynn became a free-lance writer and editor. She was also the vice president of marketing and communications for the Girl Scouts Triad Council, and later the web content manager at the Heritage Home Group.
Lynn had many interests in her spare time: basket weaving, gardening, birding and making friends. She loved pottery and craft shows, and was always willing to go shopping, even if she didn’t need anything.
When she was diagnosed with cancer about 8 years ago, it did not slow her down. She became a leading fundraiser for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer in the Triad and led a team, Lynn’s Linchpins, in a cancer walk this past October. She individually raised more than $2,500 annually for three years running in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign.
With a smile as big as all outdoors, Lynn moved through life with optimism and a sense of humor that endured the ravages of cancer. She recently described her cancer journey as a medical form of whack-a-mole. The cancer would pop up somewhere new, she said, and they’d beat it down.
Surviving include her loving husband of 42 years, Dennis Burnette; daughters Kendra Jane Burnette of Winston-Salem and Alisa Dale Burnette of Asheville; brother E.G. (Bud) Bumgardner (Kathie) of Williamsburg, Va.; sister Susan Cirulli (Phil) of Chapin, SC; brother-in-law Dave Burnette (Cathi) of McCormick, Ga.; grandson Jade Burnette of Asheville; aunt Keller Barron (Columbia, SC) and several nieces and nephews.
A special thanks to niece Liz Cirulli-Rogers, who was with Lynn and Dennis in the last few days of Lynn’s life.
Lynn was preceded in death by her parents.
The family will hold a private memorial service. Hanes Lineberry Funeral Home, 515 N. Elm Street, Greensboro, is in charge of the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to making Strides Against Breast Cancer, Lynn’s Linchpins, by following this link: https://secure.acsevents.org/site/STR/MakingStridesAgainstBreastCancer/MSABCCY24SER?team_id=2735032&pg=team&fr_id=108694
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