Betty Holden Burgess, 91, died on Thursday August 1, 2013 in Florida.
She was born to Jason and Mildred Klopp Holden in Buffalo, NY, on January 5, 1922. She was preceded in death by her parents, her two sisters, Alys Jane Park and Eunice Gardner.

She is survived by her six children, Judith Curtiss of Palm Bay FL, her recent full-time caregiver, Nancy Miller (Frank) of Clendenin, WV, Russell Burgess, Jr. (Susan) of Daytona Beach, FL, Robert Burgess (Peggy)of Cullman, AL, Beverly Thornton (Vernon) of Dublin, VA, and Richard Burgess (Gail) of Milford, DE. Also surviving are 16 grandchildren, and 28 great-grandchildren.

A graduate of Riverside High School, she met her husband to be at Riverside Baptist Church. They married on September 27, 1941, and 7 years later, with three young children, the Burgess family left the city-life of Buffalo to follow God's call to minister to folks in Eastern Kentucky and Southern West Virginia.

The Burgesses served as home missionaries for several years before again answering God's call to pastor churches in Northeastern West Virginia at Augusta and Petersburg. At every stop Betty was the face of Christ that said, "Let the children come to me.", as she helped organize and teach Sunday Schools and Vacation Bible Schools in each of those towns and congregations and at worship she contributed her talents as the pianist, or organist, or the director of the choir. She also volunteered in the community through programs that helped children learn to read.

Later, after moving to Dublin, Virginia, Betty went to college, and in 1977, at age 55 she graduated Summa Cum Laude with an Associate of Arts Degree in Community and Social Services from New River Community College. In Dublin, she served as choir director and teacher in the congregation of New Dublin Presbyterian Church, the oldest protestant church west of the Allegheny Mountains, founded in 1769. After ten years of service in that congregation, Betty was elected to the Session, and on Jan 12, 1975, she became the first woman to be ordained as a Ruling Elder of the historic church.

When she later moved back to West Virginia to be closer to her two older children she worked as an Outreach Worker for Kanawha Valley Senior Services and became an active member of the Kanawha City Baptist Church in Charleston, serving in as many areas as her age and health would allow.

For the past four years, Betty has lived with her daughter, Judy in Palm Bay, Florida. There she enjoyed the idleness of retirement, the warmth of Florida, the visits to the beach, and the company and loving care of her oldest child.

She will be remembered for her love of her family, her service to God, for her kindness and caring for others, for her love of crossword puzzles, and her wit. When the Lord greets her, He will say "Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter into thy rest."

Funeral services will be held Saturday, 12:00 noon, August 10, 2013, at New Dublin Presbyterian Church, Dublin with Rev. Andrew Taylor-Troutman officiating. Burial will follow in the Church Cemetery.

Visiation will be Saturday from 11:00 A.M. until service time at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in her memory be sent to the New Dublin Presbyterian Church, 5331 New Dublin Church Road, Dublin, VA. 24084.


To send online condolences, visit www.bowerfuneralhome.com
Bower Funeral Home, Pulaski is handling the arrangements for the Burgess family.