Sunday, September 30, 2012

Cancer Stinks

A few weeks ago a very close family friend left this world after a 16 year battle with cancer.  Toni Burris was actually more than a close family friend for my in laws.  Toni and her family were "family" to the King family.  Through dating Trey and our relationship growing into a family, I was also able to experience the love and joy Toni brought to so many.  She was every one's biggest cheerleader and one of the sweetest people in this world.    

Photo: Toni Lindamood Burris, age 60 of Bethlehem, passed away Friday, September 14, 2012, at Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory, North Carolina. Toni was born on October 16, 1951 in Kingsport, Tennessee, to the late William C. Lindamood and Frances D. Cunningham. She was a mathematics teacher in the Alexander County and Mecklenburg County Public School systems, from which she retired. She was a member of Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church in Bethlehem. She was an organ donor and gave sight to two individuals through cornea transplant donation. During her health battle since 1996, Toni provided care to others while receiving care herself. She loved movies, music, dancing, singing, traveling, math, living spontaneously, and above all else, her family and close Bethlehem/Hickory friends. She lived life to the fullest and never met a stranger. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Carolina Oncology of Hickory for their services, special care, and friendships provided since 1996. Toni’s father is the only family member to have preceded her in death. She is survived by her mother; brother Mark Lindamood and his wife Iris Goodman of Washington, D.C.; sister Lori Roark and her husband Jon of Lynchburg, Virginia; her husband Michael Burris of Bethlehem; son Justin and his wife Julie, of Raleigh, North Carolina; daughter Jenny and her husband Jeff, also of Raleigh; nephew James Lindamood of Alexandria, Virginia; and niece Hannah Roark of Lynchburg, Virginia. Funeral services for Mrs. Burris will be Monday, September 17, 2012 at 5pm at Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church with Pastor Michael Stone officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church building fund at 9379 Hwy 127 North. Hickory, NC 28601.
Toni was a true gift from God and now she is living eternal happiness and free from that monster we call, cancer.  We celebrated Toni's life on earth on September 17th with her friends, family, past student and many others.  Toni's life on earth will forever be celebrated and fondly remembered.  I can't wait to see her again!

 Last week Avery rocked her breast cancer awareness onsie in honor of Toni.  Avery will never remember Toni holding her or all the love that Toni showed our family before and after Avery came into this world, but I know Toni is up there looking down on us.  I aspire to be as great of a mother, wife, sister, and friend as Toni Burris.
This is Avery's "Cancer Stinks" face.
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