Loretta Cook Burgess passed away at the age of 72 on Monday, June 12, 2023, in Eden, North Carolina.
Over her lifetime, Loretta wore many hats. To some, she was a teacher and a baker, to others, she was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, nana, and aunt, but to everyone, she was a dedicated servant of the Lord.
She is preceded in passing by her parents, Arnold and Ethel Cook. She is survived by her husband and caretaker Andrew Burgess, their daughters Brenna Newcomb (Scott) and Andrea Silvey (Ryan), six grandchildren: Zachary Silvey, Tori Silvey, Jonah Newcomb, Harrison Silvey, Micah Newcomb, and Anna Newcomb, her sisters Linda Shirley and Marsha Garrett, her sister-in-law Gretta Maxey, seven nieces and nephews, other extended relatives, and many friends that she considered family.
Born in Pikeville Kentucky on November 12, 1950, Loretta was the oldest daughter of the Cook family. They spent their summers exploring the country together, visiting places such as the Grand Canyon, until Loretta attended Columbia Bible College in South Carolina from 1968 to 1972.
After graduating, Loretta married Andrew (Andy) Milton Burgess on August 26, 1972, and they spent the next year in Alberta Canada where she taught at Prairie Bible Institute. This started a teaching journey that lasted over two decades at various schools. While teaching, Loretta also began a baking career that would go on for 40 years and included opening her own bakery, A Piece of Cake, in Reidsville NC.
Five years into their marriage, she became a loving mother to her daughter, Brenna, and three years after that to Andrea. Her daughters made her the grandmother of six grandchildren who called her Nana and whom she loved dearly.
During the week, Loretta helped her daughters homeschool their children. On the weekends, she and Andy loved making Brunswick stew and going to each of their grandchildren’s sporting events.
For 40 years, she and Andy spent their summers portraying Bible characters such as Abraham and Sarah, and Moses and Zipporah at vacation Bible schools and special needs camps in both Kentucky and North Carolina.
“We had good teamwork together,” said Andy. “She used to throw me some curveballs on stage when we would do these Bible characters together and I had to wiggle us out of it.” No matter how different each of her hats looked, two things always remained the same; in everything that she did, she did with Andy by her side and with the aim of glorifying the Lord, at whose feet, she worships.
Her family would like to thank Dr. Terry Daniel and the staff at UNC Health Rehabilitation Services in Eden NC for the care given to Loretta, as well as each individual who has reached out to comfort the family during this time.
A celebration of Loretta’s life will be held on August 26, 2023.
“In the way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway, there is no death.”
Proverbs 12:28 NKJV
Kentucky mountain mission https://www.kmminc.org/give in Loretta’s memory or to Mount Jubilee Ministries https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=SPZU43ZBUFLLE
Colonial Funeral Home in Madison is serving the family.
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