110-year-old woman fondly Remembered
Feb.1997
By; Charlotte Ferrell Smith
Charleston Daily Mail
Martha Ellen Burford
Her Life was an inspiration.
Martha Ellen Burford, who died Tuesday at age 110, knew how to enjoy life.
"She loved people" said her daughter, Norma Casto of Cross Lanes.
"At her age, she didn't have immediate friends. She loved young and
old alike.
"She was a very contented person. She enjoyed being alone and could
entertain herself. She wasn't the type to worry or fret."
She didn't have time.|
Up until she was 108, she lived alone on a 63-acre farm off of Rocky Fork
Road, where she cooked and entertained.
She loved quilting,sewing,and reading. She made intricate quilts and sewed
until she was 98.
"She went to church until she was 108," Casto said. "She
was very active. They had covered dish dinners. She would have her little
basket with meats, vegetables, pies or cakes. She was a charter member
of her church (Naomi Primitive Baptist Church in Charleston).When they
would have association meetings, 17 people would sleep overnight at her
house. She was a gracious hostess."
Casto said her mother's philosophy for life was simple: Work hard so you
sleep well. Use moderation in all things. Trust the Lord.
Burford, one of seven children, was born on Campbells Creek. When she was
19, she married Robert Lee Burford.They had been married 61 yrs. when he
died. He worked at Charleston Laundry on the West Side and farmed.
She stayed home with their three daughters. Two children preceeded her
in death, Eloise Turner of Charleston and Eva Miller of St.Albans.
Burford completed school through eighth grade, but educated herself through
her love of reading.
An avid gardner, for many years she was active in the Dahlia Society.
"I don't remember people ever going to her home that they didn't take
something home, food or slips for flowers," Casto said.
While she was not wealthy, she was known for giving relatives and friends
$20.00 to tuck away as emergency money.
When she was 108, Casto insisted that she move into Casto's Cross Lanes home. She stayed there a year before moving into a personal care home. A month ago she moved into the Moss Golden Years Care facility.
She will long be remembered for her sunny outlook on life.
"I believe her faith made her content," her daughter said. "She just trusted the Lord and went at his will. She enjoyed her work at her home. It was remarkable. She was such a contented person.
I'm grateful for all the years I had her."
Also surviving: Six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one
great-great grandchild.
Service will be 3 pm Friday at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar, with Elder
Monroe Hamons officiating. Burial will be in Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens,
Cross Lanes.
Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.