Mary Margaret Burris, having received the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior, has gone home to be with the Lord, whom she dearly loved, on July 29, 2025. She was 86 years old.

Mary Margaret was born in Delaware County, IN (near Muncie) on June 25, 1939. She was blessed with loving parents, who were teachers. Mary Margaret often said she had a wonderful childhood. She was married on October 27, 1957, at Eden Congregational Church to William Franklin Burris.

As a teenager, Mary Margaret won several trophy awards for her majorette skills. She enjoyed traveling, shopping, and listening to southern gospel and bluegrass music.

In later years, she enjoyed coloring and word scramble puzzles. She had a keen sense of humor. She was known for her deep love for her family and having a thankful heart.

While living on Forsyth, IL, she put over a thousand hours as a volunteer at St. Mary's Hospital in Decatur, IL. She was also involved for 40 years with Stonecroft Christian Women's Club. In Decatur and Collinsville, Mary Margaret was a deaf interpreter at Richland Community College. Later, she moved with her husband, Bill, to Edwardsville and was employed at the Glen Carbon Walmart, most notably in the garden department. She enjoyed her 17 years of employment there. She was a member of East Side Community in Hamel.

Her greatest happiness was spending time with her husband, who adored her. The two were inseparable. She cherished and loved Bill. She treasured her time visiting her three children.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Emerson Franklin and Ruby Rachel (nee McCreery) Wheeler; brothers, Dr. James Orton and Robert E. Wheeler; a sister, Rachel Elaine Willis; and her precious daughter, Kimbra Lisa Burris, who passed away in 2016. A year ago, she lost her beloved husband, William "Bill" Franklin Burris.

She is survived by her two beloved sons, Rev. Dr. Kregg Franklin Burris and his wife Ann of Greenwood, IN, and Keith William Burris of Edwardsville. Also surviving are her three grandchildren: Captain Justin Franklin Burris, wife Kasey, of Stonewall, LA, Kalvin Williams Burris, Columbus, OH, and Elizabeth Ann Carrico, husband Travis, of Greenwood, IN. She was also blessed with four great-grandchildren who survive: Ryan Franklin Burris, Logan Michael Burris, Piper Ann Carrico, and Quinn Rose Carrico.

In addition, she is survived by a sister-in-law, Dr. Emily Wheeler of Athens, GA and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and a special goddaughter, Nancy R. Smith of Mt. Zion, IL.

Visitation will be 10 to 11 a.m. on Monday, August 4, 2025 at East Side Community Church, 549 Cimarron Drive, Hamel, IL 62046.

Funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. with Pastor Daniel Renfro officiating.

A private graveside service will be held at a later date.