Willie Mae Burley

Mrs. Burley received her high school education from Anderson High School, Austin, Texas and her Bachelor of Science degree from Prairie View A & M University. She earned her Master of Education degree from Stephen F. Austin University and continued advanced study at Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, Alabama. Her teaching career spanned a total of forty one years as physical education teacher, science and health teacher, basketball and track coach and cheerleader and pep squad sponsor.

She was employed with A. M. Story High School, Palestine, Texas; Clemons High School, Neches, Texas; Dunbar High School, Lufkin, Texas; and Lufkin High School, Lufkin, Texas. She retired from Lufkin High School in 1987 after twenty dedicated years.

She was involved in many professional, religious, civic and social organizations, too many for all to be named. Most notably she served as a member of First Missionary Baptist Church, Texas Retired Teachers Association, Lufkin ISD School Board, Volunteer Auxiliary at Memorial Health System, and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Mrs. Burley received many local and statewide coaching awards as did her track teams and athletes. Numerous local and regional organizations gave her special recognition of her work, civic involvement and life. she was most proud of recognitions given by former students at A. M. Story, Dunbar, and Lufkin High Schools. In 2006, the Texas State Board of Education recognized her as a Hero for Children for her work as an educator and with programs like HOSTS and GEAR-UP. Mrs. Burley was the endower of many scholarships for a great number of children through the E. C. Burley Scholarship.

She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Sylvia Burley Goff and husband, Rogers, Sr. of Lufkin and Carrye Faye Burley Brown and husband, Larry of Washington, D. C.; sons and daughters-in-law, Supt. Ecomet Burley, Jr. and wife, Frances of Pearland, TX and Dr. Hansel Burley and wife, Dr. Ronnelle of Lubbock, TX; eight grandchildren, Ecomet Burley III, MIchael Dion Burley, Stephanie Renee Burley, Ebony Marie Lanier, Xavier Wesley Brown, Xenia Michelle Brown, Erica Elizabeth Burley, Neariah Shari' Burley; five great-grandchildren, Kindle, Kaitlyn, Jamison, Jacobi and Dielle; sisters, Ada Mae Jones and Willie Ruth White; sister-in-;law, Doris Price, adored cousins, Rev. Robert Price and Inez Harris, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; adopted family, Carolyn Hall, Alex and Betty Alexander, Shanna Spells, Angela (Ann) Alexander, Tommy and Martha Williams and Charlette Stevenson; Larry and Marilyn Kegler and best friends, Georgia Malone and Nell Cloudy.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ecomet Burley, Sr.; sister, Ada Lou Hill; brothers, Edward Price, Sr. and Johnny Price, Sr.

Serving as pallbearers are Roger Rhodes, the Hon. Ronald Jones, Johnny Price, Jr., Anthony Price, Ecomet Burley, III, Michael Dion Burley, Kindle Burley, Xavier Brown, James McCoy, and Donal Greer.

Honorary pallbearers are Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the Volunteer Auxiliary at Memorial Health System of East Texas, the Alazee Morrison Sunday School Class of First Missionary Baptist Church, and members of the East Texas #2 District Association, Texas State Missionary Baptist Convention.

Expressions of sympathy in lieu of flowers may be sent to E. C. Burley Scholarship, c/o Alex Alexander, President, Angelina County Citizens Chamber of Commerce, 120 Kirksey Dr., Lufkin, TX 75904, (936) 632-6024 (payable to Angelina County Citizens Chamber of Commerce, E. C. Burley Scholarship; or First Missionary Baptist Church, c/o Mildred Johnson, P. O. Box 1721, Lufkin, Texas 75902, (936) 632-2426, (payable to First Missionary Baptisit Church, in memory of Willie Mae Burley).

Services for Mrs. Burley will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 4, 2012 in the First Missionary Baptist Church, 410 Scarbrough Street, Lufkin, Texas with Rev. W. R. Ricks officiating. Interment will follow in the Cedar Grove Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday evening, April 3, 2012 at Gipson Funeral Home.

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home