Lucille Burleson

Verona - On July 19, 2013, the Lord called Lucille Burleson home. Preceding her in that joyous journey was the Love of her Life, and Husband of 35 years, Charles Burleson, who has been in Heaven awaiting her arrival since December of 1993. Together, Charles and Lucille have eight surviving children,..Libby Jones (Keith) of Tupelo, Wanda Cooper of TN, James "Jim" Stokes (Jo) of Muscle Shoals, AL, Jack Hillensbeck (Sherry) of Biloxi, Douglas Hillensbeck of Prairieville, LA, Sharon Miller (Allan) of Tupelo, Donna Bosken of Cincinnati, OH, and Vallerie Whitten of Verona. Lucille Burleson was born June 19th, 1931, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Her parents, James Allan and Sarah Myrtle Drake, and her sisters Jamie Gillentine and Marie Curran, are also celebrating her recent arrival to Heaven. She is survived by one brother, James "Boy" Drake (Ann) and one sister, Ruth Frances Young, both of Verona. Lucille had just celebrated her 82nd birthday last month as a resident at the Meadows in Fulton and has lived a long, blessed, wonderful life right up to the very end. She was always the first in line to help someone in need however she could, volunteering herself in any way needed, even delivering for the "Meals on Wheels" program through the church in which she belonged, Verona United Methodist. She enjoyed traveling, camping, gardening, cooking, reading, painting, puzzles of any kind and Solitaire and was especially fond of Oreos, Mentos and Peppermints,..but absolutely NOTHING brought her anymore joy than that of spending time with any of her fifteen surviving grandchildren; Heather Payne, Antoinette Hiltgen, Adam Bosken, Deborah Johnson, Kirk Hillensbeck, Allana Winkler, Tommy Miller, Brian Hillensbeck, Greg Hillensbeck, Kecia Mowers, Ben Mowers, Chris Jones, Jason Jones, Shelley Mahaffey and Melissa Holder. Lucille is also survived by seventeen GREAT Grandchildren, (with at least two MORE presently on their way)! Her face would ALWAYS light up when recounting their latest endeavors, or simply by trying to count how many there were in total, until she finally ran out of fingers and toes! And last but not least, Lucille also has six other "Furry 4-Legged" grandchildren, her "Grand Dogs" that always made her smile and that she considered to be part of the family as well. Lucille was the Matriarch to quite a large family, a mother and grandmother to many beautiful and talented children of all shapes, sizes and ages, but one thing is sure, they all agree she was the very Best Mother in the World and will be dearly missed. Visitation will be Sunday from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at W.E. Pegues Funeral Home on Jefferson St. in Tupelo. Funeral Services will be at 10:00 a.m. Monday morning at W.E. Pegues, with Rev. Keith Cochran officiating followed by graveside services at Lee Memorial Park in Verona. The grandsons of Lucille will serve as her pallbearers. Even though Lucille loved flowers, you also may choose to make a memorial donation in her honor to the Mississippi Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association based in Ridgeland, MS. Her online memorial webpage may be found simply by entering her name at ForeverMissed.com, or by going to lucille-edith-burleson.forevermissed.com At this time, the family also wishes to extend their gratitude to the staff at the Meadows in Fulton & the NMMC.