Obituary of Evelyn Burnette Aiken ~ 2007
Transcribed by Joan S Dunn
Source: New Bern Sun Journal Thursday, Jul 26, 2007
ORIENTAL - Evelyn Burnette Aiken, 87, entered into eternal rest on
Wednesday, July 25, 2007, at her home in Oriental. She was born in
Cheraw, S.C. and grew up in Hartsville, S.C. She attended Limestone
College and graduated from the University of South Carolina in Columbia in
1941 with a degree in business. She was secretary of the Zeta Tau Alpha
Sorority and served on the Baptist Student Union governing board. After
graduation she moved to Washington and worked briefly for the Treasury
Department before joining the Department of Agriculture. Her long and
successful career as a budget officer took her to assignments in Germany
during World War II and later to Fairbanks, Alaska. She married the love
of her life, Russell Aiken, in 1968, and together they lived in Springfield
and Oakton., Va., as well as Temple, Texas. Evelyn moved to Oriental after
Russ’ untimely death in 1979. In Oriental, Evelyn was to become known as
the “ambassador of goodwill” through her church work and through her
business, “Unique Antiques.” Evelyn said she never wanted people to feel
unwelcome and so no one felt like a stranger after meeting Evelyn. For
many years, she was the church clerk at Free Will Baptist in Oriental.
There her duties included introducing newcomers to the church and keeping
records of church members. Evelyn often entertained in her home, or
visited shut-ins and the elderly bringing them flowers, a fruit basket or
one of her tasty deserts. She touched hundred of lives with her grace and
thoughtfulness. Visitation will be held from 7 to 8 tonight at Bryant
Funeral Home in Alliance. The memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday
at First Baptist Church in Oriental with the Rev. Thomas Denton officiating
and the Rev. Murray Etheridge will give the eulogy. A luncheon following
the service will be served at the church. Graveside services will be at
11 a.m. Saturday, August 4, at Fairfax Memorial Park, Fairfax, Va., with
Father O’Brien officiating. Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband,
Russell Aiken; her mother and father, Eula Brewer and Clyde Aubrey
Burnette; a sister, Susan McManus; and two brothers who passed away in
childhood, Clyde Aubrey Burnette Jr., and Howard Douglas Burnette. She is
survived by her brother, Wesley “Bert” Burnette of Oriental, and numerous
nieces, nephews and friends, all of whom will miss her very much.
Arrangements by Bryant Funeral Home, Alliance.
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