Brenda Burford

Mrs. Brenda J. Burford
January 17, 1943– March 5, 2017

Mrs. Brenda J. Burford, age 74 of Griffin, passed away on Sunday, March 5, 2017 at Piedmont Fayette Hospital.

Mrs. Burford was born in Monticello, GA on January 17, 1943. She is preceded in death by her parents Ralph Clinton Jones and Fleta Mae Tomlin Jones, and her sister Lois Jones Bates. Mrs. Burford was a member of Union Baptist Church.

Survivors include her husband of 55 years, Mr. Jerry Burford; children Nina Fowler and her husband Hal, Jay Burford and his wife Patricia, and Bart Burford and his wife Betsy. Mrs. Burford was Grandmama to her 7 beloved grandchildren: Meredith Burford Craddock and her husband Justin, Bess Fowler-Bellezza and her husband Adam, Hannah Burford, Aubrey Fowler, Tanner Burford, Marsh Burford, and Brenna Fowler. She delighted in making sure that each of her grandchildren knew that he or she was her "favorite." Mrs. Burford was also blessed to be a great-grandmother to Vada and Maven Bellezza and Bennett Jones Craddock, and loved nothing more than getting regular updates on her three precious babies. She is also survived by her brother, Donald Jones, brother-in-law, Chalton Bates, and several cherished nieces and nephews. Mrs. Burford was called "Grandmama Brenda" by many children she cared for over the years. She loved them like her own.

Mrs. Burford had a special group of lifelong friends she kiddingly called her "posse": Linda "Queenie" Watkins, Kay Herndon, and Barbara Pridgen, along with a host of others from childhood and beyond.

All who knew Mrs. Burford knew her to be funny and strong-minded, but above all loving. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. Her favorite saying was "It Is What It Is." She was certainly "It" to all of us.

A memorial service for Mrs. Brenda J. Burford will be held on Wednesday, March 8, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at Union Baptist Church. A private interment will be held at a later time. Friends may visit the family on Wednesday morning 1 hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 or visit their website at cancer.org.