“Burma” was born June 11, 1930 in Montgomery, Alabama to Lonnie Davis Grier and Maxie Lou Howard, and was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband, Carl Benson “Doc” Rutherford, her sister, Maxie Eloise Grier Beynon, her grandson, Erik Rawson Lorenz and her granddaughter, Erika Lorenz Herron.
She is survived by a sister, Betty Jean Steagal, brother, Lonnie Davis Grier (Barbara), son, Carl Michael Rutherford (Cheryl), daughters Sherry Lynn Rutherford Lorenz (Ralph), Lori Jean Rutherford Carley (David), grandchildren, Christie Rutherford Bowman (Blake), Benson Ireland Carley, Eric Rutherford Carley, Christopher Adam Carley, great-grandchildren Hadley Grace Herron and William Hudson Herron, grandson-in-law Nathan Scott Herron, brothers-in-law, Elden Myron Nickel and Everette Vinson Hutcheson, and scores of loving nieces & nephews.
Growing up in Montgomery, Burma graduated from Sidney Lanier High School, she married Doc Rutherford on April 19, 1953, and they remained at each other’s side for 57 years, until his death in 2010. Together, they lived in Mobile, Alabama; Austin, Texas; Jacksonville, Florida and for 21 years, Vero Beach, Florida, where she worked at the Indian River Medical Center, in the accounting department. In 1990, she and Doc retired back to Montgomery. In 2017, she moved to Memphis, Tennessee to be closer to two of her children.
Burma and Doc were members of Frazer Memorial Methodist Church in Montgomery. A keen Bridge player, she was a member of various local Bridge clubs throughout her adult life. When she lived in Vero Beach, Florida, she and “Doc” loved to watch baseball’s Dodgers’ spring training each year. Most of all, her favorite pastimes were the occasions spent with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Family Visitation will begin Monday, March 26, 2018 at 11:00 am, and opening to the public at 11:30 am at White Chapel-Greenwood Funeral Home in Montgomery, Alabama, with a celebration of life service to follow, beginning at 12:30 pm, with Dr. John Ed Mathison officiating. Interment will follow at Greenwood Serenity Memorial Gardens.
Serving as Pallbearers will be Travis McCall Rutherford, Ronnie Elden Nickel, David Ireland Carley, Benson Ireland Carley, Eric Rutherford Carley and Christopher Adam Carley
