Mildred Bernice Burkeen

Funeral services for Mildred Bernice Burkeen, 96 of Collierville, TN (formerly of Middleton, TN) are set for Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 11am at Magnolia Funeral Home - EAST with interment in Juliette Cemetery in Rienzi. Visitation will be Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 10am until service time at Magnolia Funeral Home - EAST. Tyler Lawrence and Bro. Timothy Guess will officiate the service. Pallbearers will be Tyler Lawrence, Joey Moss, Zach Saleh, Riley Moss, Ron Lawrence and Jimmy Maxwell.

 Mildred Bernice Byrd Burkeen was the oldest child of Marshall Byrd and Ruby Chase Byrd and was born on September 24, 1928 in Alcorn County, Ms. She entered her heavenly home on April 20, 2025 in Byhalia, MS. On April 22, 1946 , she married Walter Leo Burkeen, Sr. and remained married almost 55 years until his death in 2000. Together, they had 7 children, 23 grandchildren, 49 great grandchildren and 30 great-great grandchildren. She came to know the Lord and was saved in her 20's and was a member of Collierville Primitive Baptist Church. She faithfully served the Lord and told everyone He was her best and most faithful friend. She would spend many hours reading her Bible, her devotionals and written sermons until her vision and memory began to fail. She loved to talk about the Lord to anyone that would listen. She also loved to sing hymns. You could often hear her singing or whistling her favorite hymn while doing her housework. She was a wonderful cook and a great storyteller. She would relish her family with stories from her childhood and folktales that were passed down from previous generations. She loved growing and tending to her flowers and plants. She could make any plant come to life with her green thumb. She also loved her little birds and hummingbirds. She made sure they always had food and water and enjoyed watching them outside her door. Her favorite thing, though , was spending time with her children and family. She loved to travel and did a lot in her later years with her sisters, daughters, and grandchildren. Her trips took her on many adventures. She traveled to many beach trips, to Disney World, Hawaii, California, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Mexico, Belize, snorkeling in her 80's in Honduras, New York, all of New England and Cape Cod to name a few. As long as she was spending time with her family, she was willing to travel anywhere to be with them. Her family was so important to her and she would end each call with "I love you and God bless you". Even at the end when she would barely talk, she would say, "I love all my babies". She leaves behind so many precious memories for her family to cling to. Those she leaves to mourn her include her 2 sons, Vernon Burkeen of Prescott, AR and Micheal Burkeen of Hot Springs Village, AR. as well as 3 daughters, Debra Wilson(William) of Byhalia, MS, Pam Maxwell (Jimmy) of Moscow, TN  and Regina Lawrence (Ron) of Sevierville, TN; one sister, Faye Isbell (Jimmy) of Collierville, TN; 2 brothers, Vernon Byrd (Catherine) and Wayne Byrd (Donna) all of Walnut, MS. and her many precious grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband; her son, Leo Burkeen, Jr.; and infant daughter, Terri Lee Burkeen; her parents; an infant brother, Marshall Jackson Byrd, Jr.; 2 sisters, Barbara Sanchez and Flaudie Duff as well as 4 grandchildren. 

Magnolia Funeral Home has been honored to serve the family of Mrs. Mildred Bernice Byrd Burkeen.