Bettye Lou Woodard

Overseer Bettye Lou Woodard-Burke departed this earthly life at Mobile Infirmary Medical Hospital in Mobile to begin life anew in a better place Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. Born Sept. 8,1951 to the union of Bishop Phillip Brown and Overseer Myrtle Brown, she was 70 years of wisdom.

She met and married Edwin Burke Sr.

A devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, loyal friend, kind neighbor and truly dedicated and committed servant of Christ are just a few words to describe the life of Overseer Bettye Lou Woodard-Burke.

She was a member of New Free Holiness Church of God in Chatom; her service to God and humankind included visiting friends and family, cooking for everyone, reading, sewing, crocheting, spending time with her husband and spreading the Gospel.

Preceding her in death were her loving parents Bishop Phillip Brown Sr. and Elder Myrtle Brown; son, Elder Ulysses Woodard Sr.; granddaughter, Tyeisha Burke; sister, Dora Jean Brown; and brother, Bishop Willie James Brown Sr. 

Left to forever cherish the memories that embrace her love for family, friends, people in general and her God are her devoted husband, Edwin Burke, Sr.; three sons, Lewis (Michelle) Woodard Jr. and Edwin Burke Jr., both of Mobile, and LeJuan (Kennetra) Woodard Sr. of Theodore; four daughters, Pastor Martina Woodard and Jermeka (Larry) Woodard, both of Mobile, Unice (Kennieth) Woodard-Derkins of New Orleans, La., and Edwina Burke of Atlanta, Ga.; devoted granddaughter, Unica "Toosie Gal" Woodard; a devoted extended granddaughter, Tatanya Thompson; 10 sisters, devoted sister/best friend, Linden Scott, Fannie (Leroy) Adams, Dianna Brown, Erma (Nolan) Hardy, Rosetta Collins, Billie (Patrick) Barnes and Monica (Danny) Thomas, all of McIntosh, Lillie Bolar of Norcross, Ga., Arletha Brown of Mobile and Debra (Patrick) Collins of Moss Point, Miss.; two brothers, Phillip (Pearlie) Brown Jr. of McIntosh and Joe (Pamela) Brown of Norcross, Ga.; more than 20 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; goddaughters, Corneshia "Shay" Hollis, Jasmine Mixon and Jessica Mixon; godson, Derrick Moore; and friends, Pastor Gloria Cheese, Pastor Ida Busby, Cynthia Houston and Darlene Thomas; with a host of aunts, nieces, nephews and friends. 

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