Eliza Burnette Gwathmey

The Legacy of Eliza Burnette Gwathmey April 13, 1919 – May 11, 2017 “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning, crying or pain for the old order of things has passed away”. Revelation 21:4 Our beloved Eliza Burnette Gwathmey quietly and peacefully answered God’s call on the evening of Thursday, May 11, 2017 at her residence in Aylett, Virginia. Burnette, as she was affectionately called, was born April 13, 1919, to the late William and Myrtle Brown of Jetersville, Virginia. She was the youngest of five children. Burnette was educated in Jetersville, Virginia until the sixth grade. She then went on to attend Ingleside Institute, a boarding school located in Burkeville, Virginia. Burnette continued her education, attending St. Paul’s College where she received certification in elementary education. She began her forty - year teaching career in 1942, in Amelia County at the Broad Street, Bethi and St. James Schools. In 1945, she moved to Caroline County and taught at Little Bethel and Union Elementary School. She then transitioned to the King William County Training School and in later years Hamilton-Holmes Elementary. Deaconess Burnette was a dedicated member of St. Paul Baptist Church for over 70 years. She faithfully served as Chairman of the Deaconess Board and also as Vacation Bible School Director. She was an active member of VFW Post 9501 Ladies Auxiliary and was a member of the Eastern Star. Burnette also looked forward to the weekly fellowship with members of the Upper King William Senior Center In her spare time, one could find her showing off her green thumb as she had some of the prettiest flower beds ever seen. Spending time with family was paramount in her life. She enjoyed joining her husband in his quest for antique car parts when he was restoring his Model T Ford. The two of them would often ride to Crew, VA. to visit various antique shops. Every other year for twenty years, Burnette would travel with family to the Outer Banks for vacation. She absolutely loved to see the world and that she did as she and her husband embarked on trips to Hawaii, Switzerland and a cross country road trip. On August 18, 1946, Burnette married the love of her life, the late Harden E. Gwathmey, Sr. To this union were two children: the late H. Eugene Gwathmey, Jr. (Patricia) of Lynchburg and the late Myrtle G. Brown (Fred) of Aylett, VA. With this loving family reunited, Burnette leaves to cherish fond memories her granddaughter, Tiffani Nash (Troy) of Aylett, VA; grandson, Ricky Brown (Betty) of Philadelphia, TN; step-grandchildren, Shannon Ford (John) of Fredericksburg, VA; Chelsey Cox of Bethesda, MD; Xavier Cox of Lynchburg, VA (deceased); great-grandchildren, Kayla Brown, Madalynn Brown, RJ Reaves, Jade Ford and Sydney Nash; a dedicated caregiver, Valerie Murray of Aylett, VA, a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Once our life on earth is over, no one knows exactly where or when… We will be reunited in heaven, with our loved ones again… For life is but a stopping place, a pause in what’s to be, a resting place along the road to sweet eternity. We all have different journeys, different paths along the way, we all were meant to learn some things, but never meant to stay… Our destination is a place, Far greater than we know. For some the journey’s quicker, For some the journey’s slow. And when the journey finally ends, we’ll claim a great reward, and find an everlasting peace, together with the Lord.

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Eliza Burnette Gwathmey

April 13, 1919 - May 11, 2017