BIOGRAPHY

Burkett was born in Los Angeles, California, USA, on 2 January 1914, to parents Oscar Ray Burkett (1887–1948) and Lois Pauline Davis (1889–1961). She had two younger sisters: Avarilla Rae Gentry (1916–1999) and Margaret Elizabeth Banks (1919–1984). She graduated from Hattiesburg High School in 1932. She attended State Teachers College and earned her Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Southern Mississippi. She later obtained her American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) registration at Vicksburg Sanitarium in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

In her earlier years, she worked for Dr. Richard Clark Sr. during his practice. She spent several years as a researcher with the Veterans Administration. Thanks to her mother, she developed an interest in growing daylilies. She kept working in her daylily garden even as a centenarian.

Mary Lois Burkett passed away in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA, on 14 September 2024, at the age of 110 years, 256 days.

RECOGNITION

Her age was validated by LongeviQuest on 20 January 2024.

ATTRIBUTION

* Mary Lois Burkett – Find A Grave

* “Burkett garden open for daylily tour” – Hattiesburg American, 24 May 2014

* “Yesterday, I was able to visit Hattiesburg’s oldest resident, Ms. Mary Lois Burkett…” – Twitter (Toby Barker), 3 January 2024

* Mary Lois Burkett Obituary – Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home

GALLERY