- A funeral service for Alice McGrady Bates Burk will be held 2 o'clock, Saturday, January 8, 2011, at Shives Funeral Home, Colonial Chapel, 5202 Colonial Drive, Columbia, officiated by Dr. J. Earl Green and Pastor Rick Kirkinger. Interment will follow in Alpine Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 1 o'clock.
Mrs. Burk died January 5, 2011. Born December 10, 1922 in Richland County, she was a daughter of the late Charles Benjamin McGrady and Alice Myra Scroggie McGrady. Alice was a faithful member of Alpine Baptist Church and worked for many years with the Bi-Lo Grocery Store.
Alice was affectionately known as 'Granny ' by all of her children and grandchildren. Granny had a way of loving all she met with unconditional love. When there was a special meal, i.e. Thanksgiving or Christmas, she wanted to invite anyone who did not have family and make them part of hers. She loved to sew and crochet gifts for all of the special people in her life. She had a large collection of homemade and store bought dolls that assured her of never being alone. She named them all, made their clothes, and would share them with any child who needed their love. When Granny was raising her children, as a single mother, she insisted that they were all in church whenever the doors were open, and they were. She loved the Lord and had a great faith that He had, would and could provide all of her and her children's needs, all the time, and He did. She was firm and fair and did not take any disobedience from her brood. Granny will always be remembered as the person everyone knew when she walked into a room and had a cherished group of new friends whenever she departed. Granny will be sorely missed by all who knew her and her love will continue to be passed on by those infected by her smile, laugh and words of wisdom.
Survivors and their spouses include, daughter, Beth Bates Ford & Tommy of Lexington; sons, Andy Bates & Jan of Blythewood, David E. Bates of Columbia and (the late Bonnie S. Bates) William Edward 'Eddie' Bates & Juliet of Columbia; sisters, Ruby Ford of Columbia, Marion Seo & Louie of Hazelton, PA; step-son, Gerald D. Burk of Lakeland, FL; step-daughter, Pricilla Hallman of Joanna, SC; 11 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and her best friend, Grady Martin.
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1922 - 2011 (88 years)
