Obituary of Jeannie Elizabeth Wynne Burkett

Jeannie Wynne Burkett

WEST COLUMBIA – Jeannie Elizabeth Wynne Burkett, age 68, slipped quietly away into the arms of God on March 15, 2020 from the comfort of her home and surrounded by her beloved family. Jeannie had made peace with her over 10-year cancer journey and was ready to go home to heaven.

Born in Columbia, South Carolina on December 17, 1951, she was the daughter of the late Henry Wynne and Frankie Cannon Wynne. Growing up in Cayce, Jeannie attended Brookland-Cayce #2 Grammar school for grades 1-3 before her family moved to Irmo to “get away” to open land outside of Columbia that was still mostly a wooded area. By the time she entered the 10^th grade, her family moved again to Springdale where she enrolled in and finished at Airport High School (Class of 1970). It was there in the 10^th grade that Jeannie met her lifelong best friend, Donny Burkett, whom she dated throughout high school and college and then married on June 29, 1974.

A graduate of Columbia College, Jeannie was an art major and received her B.A. degree and S.C. teaching certification in May 1974. As an accounting major, Donny took a job in Florence and he and Jeannie moved there after they married for him to pursue a career in accounting with the goal of becoming a CPA. Jeannie taught in a Title I school in Florence where she shared her creative talent with students who were very poor and disadvantaged. In 1976, they moved back to West Columbia where Donny started the Burkett, Burkett & Burkett CPAs, P.A. firm with his brothers and Jeannie taught for two years in Lexington School District 1. When she and Donny started their family, she became a full-time mother to Tiffany, an attorney who owns her own law firm in West Columbia, and Brandi, who is the Director of Marketing for MSA Home Health and Hospice and is married to Mike Dixon.

On their 35^th wedding anniversary, Donny and Jeannie received news of her advanced cancer diagnosis – two primary types that had similar cells to ovarian cancer. They were blessed to hear this horrendous news first hand from a wonderful physician and close family friend, Dr. David Kulbersh. In the midst of her relentless treatment and recovery battle, Jeannie’s greatest fear was not getting to know any grandbabies. But God blessed Jeannie with 10 more years and Brandi and Mike gave her two precious grand-daughters - Charley who is now age 5 and Riley who will soon be age 4 - two of the greatest joys and lights of her life.

Jeannie was a member of Trinity Baptist Church in Cayce and, with Donny, was active in Mary Sharpe’s Sunday School Class as much as her health would allow.  Jeannie also gave back to her community in spending two decades supporting her most passionate causes, education and ovarian cancer. Along with Donny and other educators, parents and community leaders, Jeannie helped organize an educational foundation for Airport High School that raised money each year for student scholarships and teacher grants, with the ongoing goal of improving educational opportunities for the school and community. Jeannie spent countless hours giving of her time, energy, and creative abilities in serving on the Airport High School Educational Foundation (AHSEF) Board, providing administrative support from her home office, and helping plan numerous events from silent auction fund-raisers to awards programs to recognize Educators and Alumni of Airport High School. Jeannie never sought the limelight, but she was known for her standards of excellence, and her gorgeous table centerpieces and outstanding décor at any event.  In April 2017, the AHSEF inducted Jeannie into their Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.

Jeannie faced her other cause with great courage and energy as well. Not a journey she would have chosen, yet she became a passionate advocate for ovarian cancer awareness and education. Jeannie served as a Board Member of the Ovarian Cancer Coalition of Central South Carolina and was honored to be able to share her story to many people. From speaking on the steps of the State Capitol at an annual Butterfly Release event to talking personally with women who struggled with their own cancer, Jeannie did everything she could to raise awareness among women and their families about early detection and screening for ovarian and other related cancers. Her inspiration was bolstered by the excellent care and treatment she received from her first oncologist, Dr. Terry Smith, now retired from SC Oncology Associates (SCOA), and the support of Dr. Rudy Wise, retired SCOA physician and also an AHSEF Distinguished Alumni Inductee.  

As an only child, Jeannie married into the large Burkett family but kept a close-knit relationship with the Wynne family throughout her life. She had a “sisterly” relationship growing up with Katy Wynne and Susan Wynne Thomas, her “double-first” cousins, since their mothers were sisters who married their fathers who were brothers. Jeannie’s family has always been her priority. She found immense pleasure in creating an artistically-beautiful and comfortable home for Donny, her children and grandchildren, and her pets – in particular, Bentley, her beloved French bulldog who has been her present companion these past several years. She looked forward to decorating her home with lights and color for family gatherings at Christmas, and bringing out lovely décor around special holidays such as Easter, July 4^th and Thanksgiving.

Jeannie counted her blessings every day and was overjoyed when she felt well enough to spend peaceful time with her family at Isle of Palms and travel with Donny on his business trips. He always felt better when Jeannie was at his side. They have had the pleasure of being together on multiple trips across the United States and around the world, with a number of those being family trips to Europe and other locations with the girls when they were younger. Since she was such a lover of art, music, and all things beautiful, Donny made sure Jeannie got to see the wonders of places like Paris, Rome, London, and Venice, as well as famous art museums and ancient historical sites. Her lifelong dream was to go to Egypt, and that dream was fulfilled almost 14 years ago when she and Donny got to visit the Pyramids and view amazing Egyptian art, along with visiting Istanbul, Turkey and parts of Greece on the same trip. Of them all, Jeannie’s most memorable trips were to Scotland; first in August 2016, when she and Donny were able to travel with members of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), of which Donny was an Officer, and attend the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a 70-year globally-recognized military event that is rooted in Scottish tradition. In January 2017, they again went to Scotland when Donny, as Past Chair of NASBA, traveled on international business and were privileged to meet with the NASBA counterpart in Scotland and attend the Robert Burns dinner at Edinburg Castle. Being in Scotland was especially poignant for Jeannie as her maiden surname, Wynne, is of Welsh and Scottish origin. This was a trip that Jeannie would never forget and she enjoyed this time together with Donny and making new friends across the pond. Donny recounts that Jeannie talked continuously after getting home about how wonderful it was to be in such an enchanting place. As her doctor told her, “God has smiled on you.” It would be her last trip of that type.

As Jeannie’s body weakened, her faith in God only got stronger. She had grown tired of fighting this battle and the treatments had run their course. She wanted quality of life over quantity, and God blessed her with a little of both. Forty-five years ago on their wedding day, Donny wrote the following in a card he gave to Jeannie: “My wedding wish for us is this: Even though our love may render pain, joy, sorrow, and happiness, the good times will hopefully exceed the bad!! And our love will always survive!! I love you – Forever.” Indeed he has, and so did she.

Jeannie is survived by her lifelong love, husband Donny Burkett, her daughters Tiffany Burkett, Esquire and Brandi (Mike) Dixon, and granddaughters Charley Dixon and Riley Dixon, as well as a host of immediate family members, brothers- and sisters-in-law Jimmy (Debbie) Burkett, Ronny (Mary) Burkett, Tim (Lance Wilhelm) Burkett, Andrea (Bobby) Lange, first cousins Dr. Katy Wynne and Susan (Brian) Thomas and their families, as well as a host of nieces and nephews and other cousins.

Family visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 17^th from 4 pm to 7 pm at the home of Ronny and Mary Burkett, 87 Holly Ridge Lane, West Columbia, S.C.  A memorial service to celebrate the life of Jeannie Burkett will be held on Wednesday, March 18^th at 2 pm at Trinity Baptist Church in Cayce, S.C.  Officiating the service will be Trinity Pastor Dr. Eddie Coakley and Reverend Brian Thomas, Senior Pastor of NorthStar Christian Center.  Pallbearers will be Jimmy Burkett, Ronny Burkett, Tim Burkett, Lance Wilhelm, Jordan Thomas and Wynne Thomas.  Honorary pallbearers will be the beloved members of Mary Sharpe’s Friendly Couples Sunday School Class at Trinity Baptist Church.  A private family burial will be held at Greenlawn Memorial following the service.

The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to the medical staff at SC Oncology Associates and to the physicians who provided outstanding and compassionate care, Dr. Terry Smith and Dr. William Merritt. The family also gratefully acknowledges the support and medical expertise of oncologist Dr. Steven Madden with Lexington Medical Center and to the nurses and medical staff at Lexington Medical Center for their recent attentive care. Deep appreciation goes to the staff of MSA Hospice and the kind caregivers with Right at Home who allowed Jeannie to pass away comfortably in her beloved home in which she raised her family.

Peace is not the absence of difficulty. Peace is the presence of God[1] In honor of Jeannie’s memory, butterflies will be released at the conclusion of her memorial service to make their way to heaven. Jeannie is now truly healed and at peace.   

Thompson Funeral Homes in West Columbia is in charge of the arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Ovarian Cancer Coalition of Central South Carolina (http://ovariancancermidlands.org/) or to the Airport High School Educational Foundation (www.airporteducationalfoundation.com). For a history of Jeannie’s beautiful life and to make online condolences for the family please visit www.thompsonsfuneral.com

For those unable to attend the service, please join us in celebrating Jeannie’s life via Facebook Live on Donny Burkett’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/donny.burkett.7?epa=SEARCH_BOX