Barbara Jane Deming Burke

"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Proverbs 31:29

Surrounded by her loved ones, Barbara Jane Deming Burke died Feb. 28, 2014 after a year-long courageous battle against several illnesses.

Born Feb. 1, 1935 in Gastonia, North Carolina, she was the youngest child of the late Charlie and Eva Deming. Her family moved to Kingsport when Barbara was 10 years old.

Barbara was a proud graduate of the Dobyns-Bennett High School Class of 1953, where she was a cheerleader, Miss Key Club, and a member of the Madrigals and mixed chorus, as well as a host of other clubs. She treasured her friends from Dobyns-Bennett and her family is forever grateful for those friendships, especially during the past year.

Barbara was employed at Holston Defense for many years, retiring to return to college. She was a graduate of Tusculum College and ETSU, where she received her master's degree, cum laude, in education. She taught at Northeast State Community College where she was highly regarded by most of her students.

Along with her parents, Barbara was preceded in death by her husband James Harold Burke; her beloved eldest daughter Jerri Burke Bearden; her brother Charlie "Sonny" Deming; her sister Ann Deming Wright; and her nieces, Leigh Ann Deming and Kim Wright Corsini.

Leaving to cherish forever in their hearts are her daughters Melissa Burke and Laura Burke Simon, both of Kingsport; her former son-in-law David Bearden and his wife DeRhonda of Kingsport; her grandchildren Dillon Simon and Alexandra Simon of Jupiter, Fla.; Joshua Bearden and his wife Carrie of Kingsport; her great granddaughter, Madelyn Bearden; her nephews and their wives David and Janet Wright of Kingsport, Charlie and Robin Deming and Mike and Rhonda Deming of Chesnee, SC; and her dear neighbor from 'the hill', Gay Crawford.

Those who were fortunate to have known Barbara will remember her keen wit and optimism, her love of baking and gardening, her perseverance and the fact that she was, simply put, kind.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be given to Bays Mountain Park Association, 853 Bays Mountain Rd., Kingsport, TN 37660, or to a charity of one's choice.

Visitation is from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 4 with a memorial service following at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport.