Mrs. Ruth Murphy Burgess, 91, of 107 South Mulberry Street, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Tuesday, July 3, 2018, at Testa Family Hospice House.
The quiet passing of this tiny lady belies the enormous impact she had on her community through the 37 years she dedicated to co-directing Burgess Daycare with her daughter, the late Sheila Burgess Beam, and the late Edna McCain. Multiple generations of youngsters said their first lunch-time grace and naptime prayers, learned their ABCs, hit their first pitch (or received their first toenail painting) at Burgess Daycare. Each child was loved on, worried about, and prayed over by Mrs. Burgess, Mama Sheila, and Mama Edna as if she or he were family. If (as the movie line goes) what we do in this life echoes in eternity, then Mrs. Burgess met The Lord to the sound of tiny voices saying, "now I lay me down to sleep" and "God is great; God is good," and Mama Sheila making the call that she is "Safe!" at Home.
Mrs. Burgess was born on July 26, 1926, in Gaston County, NC, a daughter of the late Arnold Murphy and Carrie Ada Murphy of Cherryville. She retired from Burgess Daycare as co-director after 37 years. Ruth was a member of First Baptist Church Cherryville. Mrs. Burgess was loved, cherished and taught many valuable lessons to her little children - especially her favorite Bible verse John 3:16.
In addition to her mother and father, she was preceded in death by husband Glenn L. Burgess, Sr.; her daughter, Sheila Burgess Beam; son-in-law Keith I. Beam; sister, Helen Hart; and her aunt and uncle, Claudia and Eugene Whitworth.
Left behind to cherish her legacy are three children: Glenn L. Burgess, Jr. (Cindy); a daughter, Darlene Mayhew (Ken); and Woody Burgess (JoAnn); seven grandchildren: Jason Beam (Mona); Justin Beam; Carrie Dalton (Chad); Fielding Yelverton (Josh); Anna Ruth Edwards (Brett); Chase Burgess (Casey); and Taylor Burgess; ten great grandchildren; a sister, Dorothy Van Dine; a number of nieces and nephews; and her cat, Lexi.
Visitation will be held on Friday, July 6, 2018, from 12:00PM to 1:45PM at First Baptist Church Cherryville. The funeral service to celebrate the life of Mrs. Burgess will be held at 2:00PM on Friday, July 6, 2018, with Rev. Dr. Vince Hefner officiating. Other visitation times will be at the home Thursday, from 12:00PM to 8:00PM.
The family will have a private graveside service at Cherryville City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Hospice Cleveland County; 951 Wendover Heights Drive; Shelby, NC 28150 or the donor's choice.
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