Hazel D. Burns' Obituary
Funeral services for Hazel Davis Burns will be at East Leesville Baptist Church on Thursday April 2 at 11 A.M. under the direction of Labby Memorial Funeral Home. Officiating ministers will be Rev. Jerry Key and Rev. DeWayne Davis. Visitation will be at East Leesville Baptist Church from 5 to 9 P.M. Wednesday and from 10A.M. until time of service on Thursday. She will be buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Hazel was born near Hineston, La. on December 10, 1918 to William and Fostina McKeithen Davis.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Dawson Burns her loving husband for 57 years, two sisters, Viola Cole and Estele Bradley. Also 3 brothers, Lester (Bud) Davis, Harlis Davis and Ezra Davis.
To cherish her precious memories her beautiful family includes her 3 sons Donald E. Burns and wife Oii of Baker,La., Gerald E. Burns and wife Lorene and Gary R Burns all of Leesville. She also leaves 26 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and 8 great great grandchildren to continue her legacy.
At the age of 16 she was a runaway bride who got married on the run with her daddy chasing her and Dawson with his shot gun. Dawson was a mule skinner working in the timber industry of La. and Mississippi. A few years later he suffered a back injury when a mule threw him on a pile of pine knots. He could not work so he told Hazel she needed to learn to drive their Model A Ford so she could look for a job. She told him she already knew how to drive it. She had taught herself to drive it while he was at work. She soon found a job at Camp Polk Laundry and Drycleaners. She worked hard and learned a lot about the laundry and drycleaning business. When Camp Polk closed she went to work at DeLuxe Cleaners in Leesville. She also worked at 2 other drycleaning businesses. One day in 1962 she heard that DeLuxe Cleaners was for sale. She encouraged Dawson and Gerald to try to buy it. They had very little money but good credit. Mr. W.A. Trammel agreed to sell it on credit if Hazel was going to manage it. He knew she was very capable and dependable. She agreed and the Burns family took over DeLuxe Cleaners March 1st,1962. A few years later when they needed to purchase new equipment Dawson didn’t want to go deeper in debt so he sold his half to Gerald. Hazel continued to work at DeLuxe as assistant manager for the next 30 years when she retired.
If she was here today she would tell you that the most important thing she ever did was when she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. She was born again at Simpson Church of God in 1955.She loved the Lord and His church. She taught Sunday School and served on the Board Of Trustees for 20 years at the First Church of God in Leesville. She was also church treasurer for 10 years. She has been a member of East Leesville Baptist Church for the past 15 years. She loved and enjoyed her Sunday school class very much.
In lieu of flowers honorary gifts may be made to Skills For Orphans.
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