Lela Burden

BIOGRAPHY

Lela Burden was born in Southampton County, Virginia, USA, on 7 May 1903. As an only child, she moved to Monticello Avenue in Norfolk in 1907 and was raised by her aunt and uncle. Her uncle was delivering meat by horse and wagon to local businesses, while her aunt cleaned houses. She attended fourth grade on Queen Street—later renamed Brambleton Avenue—until Spanish flu forced the schools to close. She never returned to school; instead, she helped her aunt by cleaning houses and babysitting to make ends meet.

In her younger years, she enjoyed dancing and socializing with friends. At 20, she met and married French Burden, a railroad worker.

In her 90s, Burden traveled with a senior citizens club to Philadelphia, cruised to Jamaica and the Bahamas, and visited Niagara Falls and Canada. Burden lived independently well past the age of 100 and even organized her own birthday celebrations. Around age 109, after a fall that resulted in a broken hip, she moved to the Lake Taylor long-term care facility in Norfolk.

In June 2014, at age 111, she received an honorary degree from Booker T. Washington High School—the school she would have graduated from had her education not been interrupted by a flu epidemic. Burden was also formally recognized by the Virginia General Assembly, an honor she accepted in person at the age of 109. Although she used a wheelchair to move around the nursing facility, she continued to speak clearly and remained engaged with current events.

Lela Burden passed away in Norfolk, Virginia, on 22 July 2015, at the age of 112 years, 76 days.

RECOGNITION

Burden’s age was verified by Anson Davis and Gretchen Rockwell, and was validated by the GRG on 18 June 2014.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Mrs. Lela Babb Burden” – Virginia Health Care Association

* “112-year-old Norfolk woman, one of the oldest in the world, dies” – The Virginian-Pilot, 25 July 2015

GALLERY

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