Mavis Maud Burton

God is good and God is great and we thank Him for the life of Mavis Maud Burton, affectionately known to many as “Mother” who was born February 16, 1918. She was the second child of four children born to Adella Hay Miller and Hubert Miller. “Mother” died on November 11, 2014 at the Schnurmacher Nursing Home, White Plains, New York where she was a resident for six years. She lived to the ripe old age of 96 years old.

She was predeceased by her brother Arthur Miller and sisters Deleta Miller and Vera Murphy. Mother married Alman S. Burton (Detective and Public Health Officer) and they had five children, Kay Doreen, Junor Alexander, Winston Franklin, Julene Eleanor and Manley Francis.

At age 36, Mother was widowed and left to raise five children on her own. Church became her anchor and played an important role in her children’s upbringing. She was devoted to God and her children. Her faith was consistent and unwavering. She continually reminded her children that God would provide for the family. She learned to embrace life’s challenges with great determination as God steered her through the murky waters of life.

Her goal in life was to attend college and become a teacher. Unfortunately, she was unable to attain her goal and as a result, motivated her children to pursue higher education. This was evident by her first child Kay, who became a Microbiologist (University of Miami, Oxford OH) and her son Junor, who became an Accountant CIS/CPA-MBA (Long Island University) before their untimely deaths. Additionally, her son Winston became a Dentist (Howard University), her daughter Julene a Clinical Pharmacist (Columbia University) and her youngest son Manley a Medical Doctor (UWI).

In 1960, Mother migrated to Canada where she remained until the birth of her first grandchild, Cheryl Orr, whom she loved so very dearly. The family later migrated to the United States in 1968. Mother went to school for training as a Nursing Assistant and graduated at the top of her class. She worked at St. Luke’s Hospital until taking early retirement in 1980.

Mother enjoyed traveling. She visited several countries in Europe and traveled extensively throughout the United States and Caribbean. She had a love for gardening, cooking and shopping. She enjoyed going to prayer meetings as well as sharing in holiday celebrations with her extended family. One of her greatest joys was to give her grandchildren and several of her great grandchildren their “first bath.”

Mother is survived by three of her five children Winston Burton (Mabel), Julene Burton-Goode (Alvin) and Manley Burton (Ena). Two of her children, Kay Orr (Coleridge) and Junor Burton (Molly) preceded her in death.

She leaves to mourn her death, 12 grandchildren: Cheryl Orr, Richard Burton (Glencia), Michael Orr (Dawn), Ian Orr (Jamie), Michele Gordon (Sean), Brian Burton, Bridget Burton, Erika Scott (Kevin), Nicole Rosa (Aramis), Kristene Burton, Winston Burton Jr. and Pamella Jenkins (Kerry); 25 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other loving relatives and friends.

Mother…what a woman she was! She was a godly, loving and generous woman who was a stickler for education. She is sorely missed!

During her worshipping here at the White Plains Presbyterian church she relayed to me one Sunday to have the next hymn played and sung at her funeral. This is my last accomplishment for her and to her. It gives me great satisfaction on visiting at the nursing home to hear her say "My son, I am proud of you" and to remember the same words from my father. At times I would give her my cell phone to speak to Manley and to hear her at times asking him "Where are you"? thinking Georgia is just around the corner.

Such character and uplift, devotion to God and family and country. I could never dishonor my father's name, my country of birth Jamaica, my adopted country, U.S.A and my ancestral homeland Ghana. I leave you with the words of one William Shakespeare, "Afterlife fitful fever, she sleeps well".

I know she is absent from the body but present with the Lord. I say farewell to her with bittersweet emotions, until we meet again. For the Strife for her is over....the battle won.

Sleep well my/our Mother and may your eternal soul rest in peace.