Josie Mae Haws Burke
Josie Mae Haws Burke, 79, of Sanford, Florida, transitioned into Eternal rest on Sunday, June 5, 2022 at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, Tallahassee, Florida. She graced the Earth with her beautiful presence on November 10, 1942 in Sanford, Florida to the late Josephine Frazier Haws and the late Henry Haws Sr. At a tender age, she attended First Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church (13th St.). In her latter stage of life she became a member of Christian Fellowship Baptist Church where she was a choir member, Sunday school teacher & faithfully served in various capacities for over 30 years. Josie attended Seminole County Public Schools, Sanford, Florida, Crooms Academy (Class of 1960) Sanford, Florida, Daytona Beach Community College, where she attained an AA degree & Seminole Community College where she attained various certifications. On December 16, 1962, she entered into a Holy Union with the late, Columbus Burke Sr. In 1963, they ventured to Newark, New Jersey for opportunities for advancement. It was then that they embarked on entrepreneurship with the opening of an automotive repair shop. There, she positively impacted the lives of many in the community by being a visible upstanding member of the Mayoral committee. She was a retired City of Sanford employee & Golden Rule Affordable Housing Counselor. Her hobbies encompassed, expressing her impeccable culinary & baking skills, nurturing her nieces & nephews by protecting & providing daycare, floral arranging of which she held certification, wedding coordination, baking & being very verbose. As the adage goes, she, “never met a stranger”.
Josie was preceded in death by her Ex Husband: Columbus Burke Sr. Sisters: Maggie L. Haws, Mildred Haws, Edna Pearl Haws Burden, Brothers: Henry Haws Sr. & Roosevelt Whitfield and her Best friend of over 40 years Ms. Lois Morgan
She leaves to execute her legacy: Daughters: Donnie S. Burke; Valery Burke -Tulloch (Howard A. Sr.); Dawn L. Burke-Swain (James A. III);Son: Columbus Burke Jr.; A special Grand/son, Michael D. Burke, Sisters: Julia M. Gunn; Delois Black (Charles); Rosemary Hobbley, Gloria D. Moody; Deborah D. Stewart (Anthony Sr.) Brothers: Lee B.Haws (Polly); Moses Haws; Tony Haws (Veronica) Grandchildren; A special granddaughter Detoria M. Burke; Melquwan S. Burke Sr.; Vanity M. Tulloch; Howard A. Tulloch Jr.; Jameson A. Swain; James A. IV & Jamal A. Swain, Jaden Swain, Janiya A. Hill,
Great-grands; Destini T. Burke, Trinitei A. J. Burke; Ty’liyah N. Burke, Ta’Niyah M. Burke; Essence T. Burke, Amelia T. Burke; Melquwan S. Burke Jr., Jayden A. Burke; Jacob L. Atkins, Oliver D. Tulloch, Gemma P. Tulloch, Ariel M. Key, Great-Great-Granddaughter~Saige A. Watkins, Paternal Aunt: Lucy Mae Spady, A special eldest cousin: Willie (Agnes) Riggins Knighton, A special niece: Jaqueline Gunn Jones a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many sorrowing friends.
Visitation on Friday, June 17, 2022, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM at Christian Fellowship Baptist Church, 1701 Bell Ave., Sanford, FL 32771 Celebration of Life Service, Saturday, June 18, 2022, 12:00 P.M. at, Christian Fellowship Baptist Church, 1701 Bell Ave., Sanford, FL 32771. Pastor Otis C. Raines, Eulogist, Pastor Calvin Donaldson, Presiding. Services entrusted to the care of The Richardson Group Inc. 2619 S. Meridian St., Tallahassee, Florida 32301.