Veda Elaine Burns

Veda E. Burns: A Life of Achievement, Service, Excellence, and Heart. We celebrate the life of Veda E. Burns, a remarkable woman of great faith. Through service to her family, church, and her community; she planted seeds, tilled the soil, and helped to nurture the garden for many lives on her journey. Today we honor God for the life and legacy for He has chosen Veda to be a part of his heavenly, celestial garden. Listening to the voice of God, Veda passed away peacefully in Houston, TX on December 20, 2023. She was surrounded by her twin sister, nieces and nephews, goddaughter, clergy and cherished loved ones. Veda made her debut 10 minutes before her identical twin Sister Vera, born to Daniel M. and Jennie Porter Burns in Savannah. Veda's life was a testament to her unwavering dedication to her love of family and friends, excellence, and service. From an early age, Veda's deep faith, rooted in the Historic First Bryan Baptist Church, Savannah, guided her life's path. Later in life, Veda was a dedicated member of Wheeler Baptist Church in Houston, where she volunteered in the children's ministry, vacation Bible school and as a strong prayer warrior for cancer support ministry. Her academic journey was marked by exceptional accomplishments. Veda graduated with distinction and honors as Summa Cum Laude from A.E. Beach High School, Savannah in 1974. She was a member of the National Honor Society, a varsity cheerleader, and was crowned Ms. A.E. Beach HS her senior year. At Savannah State University, she continued to excel, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a BS in Business Administration and Marketing in 1978. An active part of the fabric of the Savannah State tiger community, Veda was a member of the Marketing club, Miss Phi Beta Lambda and active in student government. As an alumnus, Veda was a life member of the Savannah State Alumni Association, serving in two chapters- South Dekalb Perimeter and SSUNAA Texas chapter. Veda's pursuit of knowledge didn't stop there; she earned an MBA in Marketing Management from 1980 the University of Georgia, Terry College of Business, where she was awarded the prestigious Georgia Board of Regents Academic Scholarship, She landed her first job with AT&T in Columbus, GA. Years later, she moved to Atlanta to begin her career in pharmaceutical sales. She relocated to Philadelphia in 2001 to assume a Hematology/Oncology Brand Managerial Role for a Fortune 500 Bio-pharmaceutical company. In 2003, Veda relocated to Houston, a move that worked in her favor, organ transplant wise. Her commitment to empowering others was evident in her affiliations with the National Black MBA Association and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society-Gulf Coast Chapter. She retired after a 30-year stellar pharmaceutical sales career in 2015. Veda's legacy extends beyond her professional achievements. She was passionate about life, love, and the pursuit of happiness. Veda loved everybody- from babies, young adults, seniors, and everything in between. As an identical twin, Veda's life was intertwined with her sister Vera and vice versa, from the beginning of her first heartbeat to her last breath. The twins had a unique, uncanny ability to communicate in a language no one else could understand, nor could be explained. To this day, their bond remains unbroken and is immeasurable. In 2016, Veda underwent a double lung transplant. In the face of insurmountable odds, she continued her passion for travel and shopping till she dropped, plays, concerts, dinner parties, and visiting friends and family from coast to coast. A social butterfly "who was the life of the party" whether singing the Happy Birthday song or dancing down the soul train line! Once you met Veda, she was unforgettable. She was witty, wise, had a knack for connecting people from all walks of life and had a willingness to mentor and offer advice to those she loved. She lived life to the fullest with God's grace and favor, she never gave up and to the end "Veda did it her way". Veda was loved and will truly be missed! Left to cherish her memory are her twin Vera of Atlanta, GA. Her sisters Laura (Robert) Ward of Vacaville, CA, Inez (Vernel) Gainey of Savannah, GA. Her brothers Richard (Sheila) Burns of Fayetteville, NC., Ronnie (Valjean) Burns of Savannah, GA and Wendell Burns of Savannah, GA and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, godchildren, and friends who were as close as family. Veda is preceded in death by her parents, brother Daniel, and sister Delores Hardwick. Her life's work will resonate for generations to come. Veda's memory will remain a guiding light in the hearts of those she touched. Acknowledgements Though there is emptiness in our hearts today as we mourn the loss of our beloved Veda, we are under girded by the massive outpouring of your love. Your many expressions of kindness, deeds of love, and prayers sustains us at this time. Having you as our family is powerful and gives us warm memories of comfort that are indelibly etched in our hearts and mind forever, and for this we say, "Thank you". Please know that each of you have been a source of strength for Veda. A special thanks to: The Pearlie Robinson & family, The Farrar Family, The James family, Atty Barbara Parker Hudson, Vernise Richardson, Gilda Williams, Almeda Kendrick, Shirley and Ray Jewell, Cordelia Perkins, The Mullins Family, Jennifer Aitsebaumo, Mabel Scott Austin, Terri Smith. Doris Spencer, Elizabeth Jamerson Flett, Naomi Veal, Bonnie Peterson, Karen Factory Salmund, Yvonne Yepp, Pearle Wright, Van Livingston, Kerry Ewens, Wheeler Baptist Church Family, Staff of Methodist Hospital, Houston TX.

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Veda Elaine Burns

July 21, 1956 - December 20, 2023