Anne Louise Funderburk Burns passed away Aug. 23 at age 98 in the town of Red Bank. Annie was born Oct. 25, 1921 in McColl, South Carolina to Daniel Winchester Funderburk and Bertha Etta (Laney) Funderburk.
Her childhood was spent on a farm in Cheraw, South Carolina with seven brothers and sisters. At the age of 18 she moved to Monmouth County where she met her husband-to-be, Austin Ernest Burns. They married May 5, 1940 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Red Bank. They had three children, a son, John Austin, and two daughters, Mary Kathleen and Cynthia Luanne.
In her late 40s, Anne obtained her nursing degree from Brookdale Community College, then became an LPN and worked at Riverview Hospital for many years alongside her sister, Kitty. She then spent many years as a private duty nurse.
Anne loved cooking and Southern food, driving fast and watching NASCAR, and anything to do with her family. She was “Gram” to 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren. She was “Wese” to her niece Bonnie, nephew Buddy and great-nephews. She will forever be remembered for her kindness, generosity and eternal optimism (although she would be pissed she didn’t make it to the Smucker’s jar).
Services were held Aug. 27 at the John E. Day Funeral Home in Red Bank. Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to the United Methodist Communities at the Wesleyan, her residence for the last 22 years.
The article originally appeared in the September 3 – 9, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
