Willie Mae Burney

Willie Mae Ketchum Burney, born October 29, 1926 in Madisonville, TX, passed from this life on Monday, October 31, 2016. She was the only child of Wesley and Pearl Ketchum of Madisonville, TX. And was a long-time resident of Houston, Texas.

Willie was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and she was a descendant of William Bradford who came over on the Mayflower in 1620.

A Texas State Tennis Champion, Willie would practice where her mother could see her out the window when she was ill. She loved sweets, socializing, old westerns, and Elvis Presley.

Willie was one of the first women to own a business in Bryan, TX and went on to open a beauty shop in Houston, TX. She operated Burney’s Beauty Bar for 50 years.

Willie was a long time member of a travelling gospel trio and served as Administrative Assistant for 20 years at Gulf Meadows Church of God.

She is preceded in death by her parents: Wesley and Pearl Ketchum; her husband, Jim Burney.

She is survived by her daughter, Karla (Burney) Smith and husband Michael of Alvin, TX; son, Kirby Burney and wife Melissa of Dickinson, TX; four granddaughters; ten great grandchildren and four great, great grandchildren.