Mary went peacefully to the Lord on Wednesday, April 27, 2022. She was a longtime resident of Northumberland County. She was the daughter of the late Benjamin Marshall King and Marion Ruth O’Bier King and was preceded in death by her husband, James E. Burnett. Mary was also a member of Henderson United Methodist Church.
Mary spent fourteen years at the phone company, she enjoyed ten years the proprietor of a local restaurant with her husband Jim, and then had a twenty-five year career as an emergency dispatch operator at the Dahlgren Naval Base. She worked hard and taught her family to do the same. She enjoyed the outdoors and days of sunshine and warm breezes. She liked nature and its splendid beauty. She loved to read (romances and adventures were her favorites), to watch the Hallmark channel with its stories of family togetherness, holiday specials and all the things that Mary held dear.
Mary enjoyed people, literally everyone. She loved to chat with anyone and to talk about anything. She had a passion for people and a great love of humanity that allowed her to always put others first. She enjoyed people watching wherever she was, whether riding in the car or looking out the window of her apartment. She would help anyone whenever possible. Mary displayed her love in so many different ways and was a genuinely happy soul indeed. As most mothers are, Mary was a woman of amazing nurture with a heart full of love, thoughtfulness and empathy. She will be profoundly missed by all who knew her, especially her family. She was our angel in human form.
Mary is survived by her loving sons: Lawrence Hugh Packet, Jr. (Robin), Edward T. Burnett, and Benjamin J. Burnett (Virginia); her stepdaughter Rhonda Burnett; her grandchildren Ann Kathryn Burnett and Jameson Burnett; her step-granddaughter Jessica Kurdziel (Greg); and her step-great-grandson Peyton Kurdziel.
A graveside funeral service for Mary will be held on Monday, May 2, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at the Henderson U.M.C. Cemetery with the Reverend Jared Harker officiating. In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate a donation made in Mary Lou's memory to the Richmond County Animal Shelter to honor her kindness and love for animals, especially cats.