Supercentenarian Profile

Irma Burke

Born:

1915-09-25

Lancaster, Virginia

United States

Current Residence:

Lancaster, Virginia

United States

✔ Age Certified by LongeviQuest

Irma Burke (née Henderson) is an American supercentenarian whose age has been validated by LongeviQuest.

BIOGRAPHY

Irma Pauline Henderson Burke was born on 25 September 1915, in White Stone, Lancaster County, Virginia, to Leslie Pascal Henderson and Catherine Brent (Lawson) Henderson. She grew up on Mosquito Point Road on land that had belonged to the Lawson family since the 1600s, alongside her siblings Augusta, Orville, Gwendolyn, Vergil, and Celeste.

Her father worked as a fisherman, while her mother managed the household, raised livestock, and sewed clothing for the children. Growing up, Irma recalled ice deliveries from the Little Bay Ice Plant, skating on frozen ponds, homemade snow cream, and summers swimming in the river, often dodging sea nettles. The family obtained early electricity through a Delco motor system before power lines reached the county

Irma graduated from high school at 16 and began working at the Peoples Bank of White Stone in January 1933. She remained in banking for 44 years, retiring from the Bank of Virginia, with only a four-year break following the birth of her daughter. She witnessed the 1933 bank closures at the start of Franklin Roosevelt’s presidency and was part of the White Stone bank staff that reopened earlier than others.

In 1936, she married Wade Raleigh “Tater” Burke (1914–1946), who owned and operated the Esso gas station in White Stone. They had one daughter, Catharine (Burke) Moore, and later a grandson

After retirement, Irma volunteered for 27 years at Rappahannock General Hospital, contributing more than 12,000 hours of service. In 2004, she moved to Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury (RWC), where her mother and sister had also lived. She embraced the community fully, taking part in exercise classes, Bible study, gardening, crafts, and social activities. She was honored with RWC’s Living Well Award in 2009, cut the ribbon for the Life Enrichment Center in 2017, and received the Lifetime Wellness Award at age 100.

Asked about the secret to her longevity in a 2024 interview, she replied simply: “White stone water.”

She currently lives in Lancaster, Virginia, United States.