Serving the Lord is nothing new for Artie Burnette of Fairview. Burnette, who recently celebrated her 90th birthday, has been a member of Lamar County’s Antioch Baptist Church for more than 60 years.
Born Oct. 10, 1910, as one of 10 children, Burnette was raised in a Missionary Baptist Church and joined Antioch after she married. “I was saved and baptized at Antioch in the 1930s,” she said.
Burnette has seen trials in her life comparable to Job’s, but she has remained a faithful servant throughout the years. She lost her husband, Elmer, in 1956 and was left to rear five children alone. She took a job to send two of her children to college. She earned money by serving the remaining 18 months of her late husband’s term as road commissioner for Lamar County. She then worked 14 years at a garment plant in Sulligent to support her family.
Through all her struggles, including the death of a son in a trucking accident, attending church has remained a priority for Burnette.
“I hardly ever missed unless there was an urgent matter,” she said.
She also made sure her family was in church. “I wanted my children to know the Lord,” she said.
An active member of Woman ‘s Missionary Union, Burnette stressed the importance of getting involved in the work of the local church. “It takes everybody working in the church to keep things moving,” she said.
Bob Anderson, former pastor of Antioch, recalls Burnette’s dedication. “She is a great supporter of the church,” he said, “faithful in attendance and very missions-minded.”
Anderson related how Burnette would begin months ahead promoting the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. He described her as a “good evangelist,” referring to her dedication. “She loves Christ and wants everyone to know Him. You couldn’t talk to her long before she would ask you if you knew Jesus.”
Ninety years is a long time to live and work in this world, but Burnette says her secret to long life is simple: “Serve the Lord and let Him rule over you.” (TAB)
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