Burma Marshall
1947-2021
Burma Millicent Marshall, age 73, of New Glasgow,
NS, passed away peacefully Tuesday, May 25, 2021 in the Palliative
Care Unit of The Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow, under the attentive
care of Dr. Anne Kowasnik and remotely, her sister- in- law,
Dr. Maureen Goutier, PhD Medical Sociology
(Gerontology). During her illness, Burma received special
friendship and care from Crystal States, Arletta (care worker), Sylvia
(friend), John Howard Society (friends) and her sister Emily. We
extend our warmest gratitude to them for their kindness to
Burma.
Throughout her adult life, Burma served her community
compassionately and selflessly. Burma retired after a twenty-eight
year teaching career at Temperance Street School, New Glasgow, and
continued to give generously of time and efforts to her community and
those in need. She devoted her time volunteering within her church
community as a choir member, with Circle of Friends and monthly Sunday
senior home church services, and the town of New Glasgow Community
Garden. Burma served on committee boards, including Chairperson of
‘The Palliative Care Unit of the Aberdeen
Hospital’, volunteer at the ‘John Howard Society
Restorative Justice, ‘Big Brothers and Sisters of Pictou
County’, ‘The Canadian Red Cross’ and
‘Gardens in Bloom For The Town of New Glasgow’.
Singing was one of Burma’s favourite pastimes and she
particularly enjoyed performing with her many friends in the
‘Trinitarian Choir’ under the direction of
Director, Monica Punke.
Burma was predeceased by her parents, Aubrey Joseph
and Emma Louise Marshall (Glace Bay) and her foster parents, Albert
and Carrie Best (New Glasgow); as well as her sisters, Dolly and
Brenda, her brother, Russell, and her foster brother, Calbert Best
Jr.
To acknowledge our sister’s commitment to the field
and study of EDUCATION, her surviving siblings, Emily, Sharon,
Letitia, twin sisters, Debbie and Donna and brothers, Phinny,
Keith and Aubrey, have created “The Burma
Marshall Memorial Scholarship Fund” in her honour. Memorial
donations to The Burma Marshall Memorial Fund (in lieu of flowers) are
being received online at the following email address:
BurmaMarshallScholarship@gmail.com or at the following mailing
address: Teachers Plus Credit Union, 36 Brookshire Ct., Bedford, NS,
B4A 4E9. Donations can also be made to any charity of your
choice.
In a recent newspaper article, Burma considered herself to be
lucky in life, “dining with the Queen, meeting Prime Minister
Trudeau twice, musician Dan Hill, Lincoln Alexander (first Black MP),
Martin Luther King Jr, ll.” We are thankful
that she was a part of our lives.
The family sincerely thank the very many of Burma’s
former students, friends and colleagues who have already expressed
such warm comments and condolences to us on Social
Media.
A private graveside service took Wednesday, June 2. A private
memorial service will take place at 3pm Sunday, September 19. The
service will be livestreamed at:
Burma
Marshall Memorial Service
(Livestream will begin at approximately 2:55.
For those unable to watch the service live or if there are any
technical difficulties with the livestream, a recording of the service
will be available later)
Arrangements
are under the direction of the R.H. Porter Funeral
Home.
Ms. Angela Bowden, Author, and Burma’s former
student, is quoted from her recent poem written as a tribute to
Burma:
“.. Felt love wrapped
in your essence,
Carrying your own
weight
you were a blessing
Carrying some of ours
And carrying theirs
too
So we could walk a little
lighter
Maybe shine a little
brighter
Oh the confidence you had in
us
Was true
You ignited the
flames
that burn today
We are because of
you.”
(May 18th, 2021)
We will miss her warmth and
smile.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Burma Marshall 19472021..
Death notice for the town of: New-Glasgow, Province: Nova Scotia