Remembering Lillian Marshall Burris
Eight years ago (4/8/2014) Lillian Marshall Burris, passed away at her home in Milford, DE, surrounded by family. She was 94 years old. Lillian was married to Jack who passed away January 22, 2004. Together they had 4 children. She was an incredible lady…strong, devoted to her family and her community, gracious and kind.
Lillian was born in Lewes, Delaware, graduated from Lewes High School and then from the University of Delaware. She taught at Caesar Rodney School for one year until the outbreak of World War II, when she married John E. (Jack) Burris.
After the war, the couple settled in Milford where Lillian was a stay at home mother who dedicated herself to raising her four children and participating in numerous community activities:
- Delmarva Boy Scouts Advisory Board
- Girl Scouts Advisory Board
- Parent-Teachers Association Member
- Chairperson of the Delaware Federation of Women’s Clubs Field Service project
- Education Chairperson for the Milford New Century Club where she administered the Club’s Hirsch Fund for disadvantaged people (20 years)
- Board Member of Kent-Sussex County’s Mancus Foundation for Handicapped Persons
- Charter Member of the Milford Housing Corporation
- Trustee of Wesley College
- Member of the University of Delaware Alumni Board
- Sunday school teacher (18 years)
- Member of the Administrative Board and President of the United Methodist Women’s Society
- Parsonage Committee Co-Chair
- Council of Ministries Counselor with Youth Fellowship
- United Methodist Women’s Circle
- Active Member United Methodist Church
Lillian served the Milford Memorial Hospital Auxiliary as Booth Chairperson with her husband Jack, where her family and employees of Burris Foods cooked chicken barbecue dinners at the annual Milford Hospital Fair for over 30 years.
Lillian was also a Trustee of Children’s Beach House Board for 50 years.
Together with husband, Jack, they were chosen as “Citizen of the Year” twice by the Milford Chamber of Commerce. Both also received the United Way’s Alexis de Tocqueville Society Award.
She received the distinguished honor of Delaware’s Mother of the Year in 1992, and received the “Outstanding Alumnae of the Year” award from the University of Delaware in 1997.
Lillian enjoyed sandbars on Lewes Beach in the summer, football games at the University of Delaware in the fall, and the extremely cold and windy days of winter in Delaware. She was a fabulous cook who enjoyed making food for the masses and bundt cakes for every occasion.
Most people will remember Lillian as an outstanding volunteer, community leader, philanthropist, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. But by far, she will always be remembered for being the faithful and devoted wife of Jack Burris. In fact, it is hard to think of Lillian as just Lillian, it was always Jack and Lill. As a couple, they were admired, respected and loved by all.
Lillian’s death represented the closing of a chapter for the Burris family and she is missed greatly.
