Reba McDougal Burke, age 96, passed away Monday, Dec. 5, 2016. She was born Aug. 30, 1920, in Iuka, Mississippi.
She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Commodore Edmondson; husbands, Clarence Oliver McDougal and Joseph Burke; parents, Walter Lee Edmondson and Manda Elizabeth Edmondson; brother, Elmer Edmondson; sister, Alma Edmondson; and beloved son, Clarence Eugene McDougal (Faye).
Reba is survived by her loving daughter, Linda McDougal Hunt (Don).
Linda was the caregiver for her mother for many years. She had six grandchildren, Tara Zuniga (Gerardo), Mike McDougal (Karen), Nathan McDougal (Lisa), Teresa Deremer (Doug), Lisa Anderson (Doug), and Kim Vartuli (Joe). She had 13 great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren; and niece, Betty Lynch.
Reba was a firm and resolute member of the congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She was instrumental in helping to establish the witnesses as a group in the Shoals area. As Reba said, “My parents always studied the bible and from birth taught me to do the same”. She was tireless in taking “this good news of God’s Kingdom Matthew 24:14” to her community as long as she was physically able. For a year after she was confined to her home. She had a group of friends come each week, and they enjoyed using the telephone to share the bible’s message with neighbors. She was especially fond of sharing Revelation 21:4, the promise of a new heaven and a new earth, a time when the whole earth will be a safe, happy place for all who love and serve the Grand Creator, Jehovah God.
Her children wish to thank Gentiva Hospice and the wonderful nurses that took such great care of her.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 5 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses on highway 72 in Tuscumbia with Brother Berry Barler officiating. You may sign the guest register at sprywilliams.com.
