Burnet Jackson Riley (aka “BJ” or Ms. Riley) was born on April 6, 1933, in Dekalb, TX, to the union of the late Willie Jackson and late Florida Williams Jackson Nelson. She fell asleep in death on Monday, February 8, 2021 at a local hospital.
Around the age of 17, Burnet moved to Oklahoma City, OK, where she resided until her death. While attending Douglas High School, she received training as a cosmetologist. After graduation she worked as a beautician for many years. In 1967, Burnet attended OIC of Oklahoma County where she received electronics technical training. Upon completion, she started her career with Western Electric (later known as AT&T and Lucent Technologies), retiring in 1995.
In May 2000, Burnet became an amputee. To embrace her challenging situation, she decided to call her stump “Precious”. She didn’t want the doctors or nurses referring Precious as “your stump”. So everyone became very familiar with not only Precious, but her many prosthesis – Tom Jones, Mikey I, and Mikey II, and the leg she still had was known as Lame Dame. If you talked with her, she would always say, “Me and my bunch…” Burnet was very independent and determined to do things for herself. She would spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to overcome a challenge and often succeeded. For close to 20 years, she did a remarkable job living alone as an amputee.
Burnet never met a stranger. Over the years she developed relationships with many people – young and old. She was a no-nonsense type of person. That is what attracted her to many.
Several of Burnet’s family and friends have preceded her in death: two stepmothers, Rachel Jackson and Ladenia Jackson; one sister, Georgia Neil Nelson Carter Battle; one brother, Joe D. Nelson, Jr.; one step sister, Patricia Felix; two sons, Ferdinand Riley, Sr. and Vincent Riley; one nephew, Ricardo Dimenis Nelson (Ricky); close friends Altie and Altha Mae Harris (Best Friend – “Big Sister”); Joe Slaughter; Robert White; Willie Fields; Fred Davis Jr.; Solomon and Florence Oliver; Ulysses and Joann Neal; Vaughn and Shelia Berry; Norvell Givens; Leonard and Margaret Lusk; Carolyn Peters; Bernie Goldstien; Nadine Atkins; Foster Stephens; Troy Mosley and Georgia Feagin.
She leaves to cherish her memory: one daughter, Gail L. Clausell (Samuel), of Mobile, Alabama, and one son, Gregory D. Riley (Patrice) of Tulsa, Oklahoma; six grandchildren: Trina Zeigler, Derrick Leon Willis, Carion Bruner, Katesha Clausell Feagin (Roy II), Ferdinand Riley Jr., and Samuel Kamal Clausell (Deondra); three step grandchildren: Shylynn Riley, Shadavias and Kenneth Packer; thirty-seven great grandchildren: Shawnta, Shelbria, Tyra, Joel, Marquise, Xavion Zeigler; Asante and Isiah Thompson; Ezederik Oglesby; Trevon Brooks; DeQuante and Rashanda Carter; Rachel and Derrick McKinney; Mar’Keylah and Destinee Farris; Diamond, Princess, Cherish, Treasure, DéPrince, and David Willis; Kiandre Williams; Carion and Donnie Lenox; Marlicia Green; Shanylah and Damonte Walker; E’moni Young; Shyjayla, Jesse, Khy and King Riley; three devoted, Darien and Kelise Feagin, and Khari Clausell; thirty-one great-great grandchildren; two sisters, Valerie Wilson (Kevin) and Melanie Jackson; two brothers, Bill Jackson (Charlotte) and Phil Jackson (Carol); five nephews, three devoted, Rolando Torino Nelson (Blue), Orlando Florentino Nelson (Red), Mark Anthony Nelson Carter (Marko), Lionel and Cedric Nelson; one cousin, Annie Pearl Williams; “adopted children and grandchildren”: Sherrill and DiAnne Davis; Lisa, Dee, Shayla, and Josh Givens and Family (known as her “Sunday Bunch”), Althea, Alan, Allison, Alonzo, Alicia Harris; Damien and Donna Downing; Judy Wilson; Delores Booker; Dennis Morgan (Lucy); Ashley Clausell Hudson (Twuane) and family; Joyce Brown, Renee Packer; many special friends, Lucius Hill, Bruce Crittenden, Victor Holder, Keith Sikes and his two sons; Waymond Cooksey, Ella Williams, Harriet Hooks, Albert and Berteal Chaney; The Clausell, Crawley, McDaniel, Walker, Harris, Howard, Halsey Families (of Alabama and Georgia); Roy Feagin; Alma and Mae Smith; Joetena Johnson; Mary Dewise; Walter and Barbara Robb; Gilbert and Janine Hill; Octive and Sandra Jackson; Lee Ann Whittenberg; Faye Byrd, Theodore Lee and other members of Del City Church of Christ and Meals on Wheels; and a host of other nephews, nieces, and friends.
We will miss Ms. Riley’s sassiness and laughter. It has been a privilege to have known such a wonderful lady!
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