Suzanne Porter Burow

Suzanne Porter Burow, 77, of Kingsport, passed away on Friday, December 22, 2017, at Preston Place Suites.

Suzanne, the daughter of Dr. Walter A. and Virginia M. Porter, grew up in Hillsville, Virginia. She attended Salem Academy and graduated from Duke University with a B. S. in chemistry. At Duke, she met Richard "Dick" Burow, and they were married in August 1963. After a couple of years in Durham, they moved to Kingsport where Dick started work at Eastman.

One of the extraordinary volunteers at Exchange Place, Suzanne created living history experiences for young and old. Over a number of years, and with the help of other volunteers, she cultivated a true farm of the 1850s. She was a driving force for historical accuracy in construction methods, choice of furnishings, and the use of period breeds of animals and heirloom varieties of plants. She kept a small stock of farm animals: sheep, draft horses, riding horses, cows, pigs, chickens, and several barn cats. The draft horses were regularly hitched to various farm equipment to demonstrate farming in the 1850s.

One of her lasting and living contributions to Kingsport is the school program at Exchange Place. Every year, students from area schools come to learn first-hand about life on an 1850s farm. She, along with other volunteers, started this program over 30 years ago, and it continues to sustain the community's love for and desire to know about living off the land like the early English-speaking settlers.

No task at Exchange Place was beyond her understanding and ability, and none was beneath her status. She was involved with leading and planning projects; grant writing and fundraising; researching details of early American life; restoring and constructing buildings; raising animals; educating; and maintaining the property, such as mowing the grass and cleaning out the barns. She was in her element at Exchange Place.

Suzanne was a craftsperson and artisan. She enjoyed woodworking and made several small pieces of furniture for friends and family. Following old traditions and using hand tools, she cut down white oak trees, split and shaved the wood, and wove baskets. She bred Tunis and Cotswold sheep and raised the lambs. Each spring, using only hand tools, she sheared the sheep, then washed, carded, spun, and wove the wool into fabric. She was a founding member of The Overmountain Weavers Guild; it seemed as if none of the fiber arts were beyond her interest and abilities.

Suzanne was involved with two books to help with genealogical research. She edited The Cemetery Records of Carroll County, Virginia. She researched, cataloged, wrote, and published The Cemetery Records of Sullivan County, Tennessee.

A charter member of Preston Hills Presbyterian Church, Suzanne was an elder, teacher, and treasurer there. Once again, she demonstrated both her willingness to take on a variety of tasks and her versatility in accomplishing them. She served others without fanfare.

Over the years, Suzanne received a 1987 Times-News Award for Distinguished Service to the Community, a Tennessee State Legislature Recognition, was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow, and named one of the Junior League's Women of Impact in Kingsport. The Burow Museum at Exchange Place was named in honor of Suzanne and Dick and was one of her dreams.

She was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Richard Burow. She is survived by son and daughter-in-law Craig and Rebecca, grandsons Nathan and Jackson, son David, sister and brother-in-law Pat and J.E. Newbern, and nieces Anne and Stephanie.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, December 27, 2017 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport. A memorial service will be conducted on Thursday, December 28, 2017 at 10 a.m. at Preston Hills Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow at East Lawn Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions can be made to Exchange Place, 4812 Orebank Rd, Kingsport, TN 37664 or to Preston Hills Presbyterian Church, 4701 Orebank Rd, Kingsport, TN 37664.

Please visit www.hamlettdobson.com to leave an online condolence for the family. Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes, Kingsport, is serving the family of Suzanne Burow.

Cemetery Details