Melrose Burnett

It is with profound sadness and love that we announce the passing of Melrose Burnett. Born on August 13, 1933, in Forest, Mississippi, Melrose was a beacon of light and love who touched the lives of many with her generosity and compassion. She had a way of making everyone feel special and loved. As Maya Angelou once said, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Melrose lived this wisdom in her everyday life.

Melrose spent her career as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Ring Nursing Home, and her loving nature made her a favorite among patients and colleagues alike. Melrose worked at many places in her lifetime Peggy Ann Doll Shop (presently known as Indian Motorcycle Building) Mass Mutual , Springfield Cemetery , Plastic Packaging in West Springfield, of which she walked home from after her shifts. She was a homemaker, a hard worker and so very nurturing. She had a knack for lifting spirits with her humor, making even the hardest of days a little brighter. Melrose often said that family was what mattered most to her, and she cultivated a large and loving family in both her personal and professional life. Her laughter was infectious, her spirit unbreakable, and her love for others unbounded.

Born to her parents Dock Handford and Elizabeth Odom Handford. Melrose was the youngest of Eight children, pre-deceased by Four Sisters and Three Brothers. Melrose migrated to Springfield, Massachusetts, from Mississippi in 1969 to be closer to her family. Pre-deceased by her husband Herman Burnett, Melrose leaves behind Five Children to continue her legacy Daughter: Marvise (Raymond) Traylor and Four Sons: Jerome (Deborah) Whittington, Douglas Whittington, Glenn Roy Burnett and Winston Burnett. Melrose was blessed with Sixteen Grandchildren which she loved deeply Phillip (Tiffany) Traylor, Nicholas Traylor, Marco Traylor, Shaunta' Traylor. Jerome Jason Whittington, Kayla Whittington, Douglas Whittington Jr, Vanessa Whittington, Tazhal Marquez, Benjamin Christopher Marquez, Iyawna Burnett, D'vaughn Marquez-Burnett, Julian and Colleen Mayers, Twenty Great-Grandchildren and Four Great-Great Grandchildren.

Melrose loved her family and friends, she loved to garden, sew, draw, and cook especially soul food. she was very close to God and reminded everyone around her to look to him and be grateful for the days that we are all gifted. She had an amazing sense of humor which will be greatly missed; her doors were always open. She raised her children and many generations after. She will be deeply missed. In the words of Albert Schweitzer, "The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve."

A viewing for Melrose will be held on Friday, August 16, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, at Canaan Baptist Church, 1430 Carew Street, Springfield, MA. Following the viewing, Melrose will be laid to rest at Oak Grove Cemetery of Springfield Inc., 426 Bay Street, Springfield, Massachusetts, 01109.

We invite all who knew and loved Melrose to share their memories and upload photos to her memorial page. Let's fill it with the love, laughter, and kindness that Melrose embodied throughout her life.