Aurena "Rena" Mae Burgess

Aurena Mae "Rena" Burgess, 94, of Decatur, passed away in Gainesville, GA, on Friday, June 23, 2017. Born November 9, 1922, in Ashburn, GA, she was the daughter of the late James Rowland and Aurena Evans Burgess.

Rena was very proud to have worked for the Department of the U.S. Navy during WWII in Washington, D.C. before returning to Georgia where she worked as a Stenographer for The Federal General Accounting Office until retirement. She was a member of Decatur First United Methodist Church where she was a member of the United Methodist Women. She was also a faithful volunteer in the church's office. Rena enjoyed music, reading, and spending time with her family. She was always ready and willing to help take care of the many children in her family and never forgot a birthday card.

Rena is survived by her nieces, Joan Burgess Taunton, Kay Burgess Holland, Martha Burgess Blanton, Dorothy Stutts Ethridge, Aurena Griffin DeFoor, Charlotte Burgess Hinson, Linda Burgess Mason; nephews, George Madison Burgess, Jr., James Rowland Burgess, III, and Daniel Dumps Griffin; numerous great nieces and nephews and their children; and special friends, Mary McDavid Tritt and Beth McDavid Kennedy.

In addition to her parents, Rena was preceded in death by her sisters, Miriam Burgess Griffin, Ruth Burgess Stutts, Eleanor Mood Burgess; brothers, George Madison Burgess, John Evans Burgess, James Rowland Burgess, Jr., Victor Sterling Burgess, Charles Rembert Burgess, and Samuel Lamkin Burgess; niece, Sandra Burgess Sumner; and nephews, Henry Horace Stutts, Robert Lee Williams and James Edwin Outler.

The family will receive friends at 1 p.m. with services at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, in the chapel of A.S. Turner & Sons, with Reverend Diana and Jim Roberts officiating. Interment will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 28, at Rose Hill Cemetery, Ashburn, GA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Decatur First United Methodist Church, 300 E. Ponce de Leon Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030.

Feel free to leave the family your condolences via the guestbook provided.