Dorothy "Dot" H. Burns, 90, passed away at her home surrounded by her family on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, in Perry, Fla. Burns was born Sept. 11, 1930 in Meridian, Miss., to the late Dewey Lee Harper and Florence Pickett Harper.
Burns was a member of First Baptist Church of Perry. She graduated from Anderson Infirmary School of Nursing in 1951. Burns later passed the Mississippi State Board and became a Registered Nurse and quickly found work with the Lake Shore Hospital in Lake City, where she met the love of her life, Joe P. Burns, Jr. She also worked at the V.A. Hospital in Lake City. She and Joe were married in 1951. They moved to Perry in 1954 and established Joe P. Burns Funeral Home. Burns worked for a short time for Dr. John Parker, the Taylor County Health Department and Doctors Memorial Hospital, before working with her husband at the funeral home and beginning their family of four children. She was a former member of the Order of Eastern Star, current member of the Perry Woman's Club and was an avid bowler and Bridge player. Last but not least, she and Joe were Florida Gator Boosters for many years.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Joe P. Burns, Jr.; her son, Joe P. "Joey" Burns, III; her niece, Bea Burns Taylor, whom she raised as a daughter; three sisters and four brothers.
Burns is survived by her children, Bonnie (Joe) Glover of Tallahassee, Barbara Jo Burns and Morgan W. Burns, both of Perry; her brother, Benjamin C. Harper of Meridian, Miss.; special nephews, John and Jay Taylor of Virginia Beach, Va.; three grandchildren, Ryan (Betsy) Glover, Cara (Luke) Hill and Gray Sadler; six great grandchildren, Terri Jo, Emily, Keira, Uriah, Jonah and Harper, as well as a host of nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, June 12, at Burns Funeral Home with interment in Pineview Memorial Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be sent to one favorite charity, NAMI or Big Bend Hospice.