Funeral Service for Sonja Josephine Burke, age 80, of Cullman, will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, at Cullman Heritage Funeral Home with Rev. Ray Lathem officiating; interment in Cullman Heritage Cemetery.
Cullman Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Sonja Josephine Burke, Mrs. B., aka Big Mama, passed away on Monday Jan. 21, 2019. She was born in Samantha, Alabama, to Laura and Gorman Lunceford on Feb. 11, 1938. She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, and devoted husband of 58 years, Robert Burke, Jr.
Sonja loved to travel, taking as many of her family with her as she could. Some of her favorite things included spoiling her eight grandchildren that affectionately called her Big Mama; visiting her sister in Colorado; elephants; rocks; and sunsets. She loved her customers and the many friends that visited the flower shop, and she always made sure they left with a rose. She loved being with family and enjoyed a full life. She worked at Cullman Medical Center as an x-ray technician, ultrasound sonographer, and worked in nuclear medicine. In 1983 she retired from the medical field to follow her dream of opening Burke's Florist, where she set a loving example of giving, faith and hard work.
She leaves a huge hole in the heart of those that loved her and will be greatly missed by her three children,Bob Burke, April (Eugene) Kimbril, and Jo (Greg) Keeton; sister, Lana (Donnie) Lunceford; grandchildren, Matthew Kimbril, Kevin (Jessica) Kimbril, Blake Kimbril, Rachel Keeton, Luke Keeton, Noah Keeton, Brian (Katie) Keeton, and Clint (Rosanna) Keeton; five great-grandchildren; and her special flower shop delivery dog, Rufus.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, at Cullman Heritage Funeral Home.
