DORRIS JUNE BURLEIGH
September 30, 1927 to February 3, 2024
Edmond, Oklahoma

Dorris' Obituary

Dorris June Williams was the second child born to the union of Johnny Williams and El Rosa Carr Williams on September 30, 1927, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where she remained a lifelong resident.

Dorris was a strong believer in Christ and was baptized at a very young age. She attended Tabernacle Baptist Church where she participated in children's and youth activities. Later, she actively served at Tabernacle as an adult usher and faithful contributor. Dorris was an extremely generous woman, a dedicated follower of Christ and believed strongly in education. After graduating from Douglass High School in 1944, she went on and earned a B.S. in Education from Prairie View A&M University in 1948, a Master's Degree in Education from the University of Oklahoma in 1958 and completed all her course work for a PhD in Education.

After graduation, Dorris married Arthur G. Burleigh and this union produced three children: Anita Varice, Arnold Gerald and Armand Gerrod. She later joined Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church where she attended with two of her children and served as an usher. Her passion for learning and teaching was lifelong as she devoted her career to education at all levels from kindergarten through adult learning. She worked as a classroom teacher, a reading specialist, a school principal, a school consultant, and as an administrator at the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education. She had a positive impact on students wherever she found them whether at a school, during her sons' sporting events, daughter's activities or on a shopping trip. She was adamant that her grandchildren read at an early age as well.

No stranger to hard work, Dorris frequently would work part-time, supporting both her shopping and traveling hobbies. She loved watching tennis, basketball and the Home Shopping Network.

Dorris was a member of Phi Delta Kappa Education Sorority and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Dorris was preceded in death by both parents, Johnny Williams and El Rosa Carr Williams, her sister Johnnie Mae Williams Shields, brothers Herbert Williams, James Williams, Maurice Benefee, Earnest Benefee, and children Anita V. Pierce and Arnold G. Burleigh.

She leaves cherished memories with her son, Armand (Marilyn), daughter in love, Annette, grandchildren, Akilah (DaJuan), Audrea (Ira), Ashley, Allisyn, Mariah, Ariel and Ava, great grandchildren, Avery, Alyvia, Adayah, and Ira, III Tre", a special great niece, Brittany and many nieces, nephews and several lifelong friends.

A memorial service will be held at Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church on Saturday, February 10, 2024.