Vertie Lee Piercy Burns

Vertie Lee Piercy Burns, 90, of Valdese, NC went to be with Jesus on Thursday, August 11, 2016.  Born in Burke County, NC on September 26, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Felix Henry Piercy and Sadie Ellington Christenbury Piercy.  Vertie was a member of Pleasant View Baptist Church.

Mrs. Burns taught piano at Drexel School and in her home, and she was a former chorus teacher at Valdese High School.  She was minister of music at Enon Baptist Church, North Morganton Baptist Church, Pleasant View Baptist Church, and First Assembly of God.  She studied piano in Cincinnati, OH and also at the Stamps-Baxter School of Music in Chattanooga, TN.  She also played with the Oak Ridge Boys.  Vertie wrote the original score for the Valdese outdoor drama, From This Day Forward, and also wrote the music for the Christmas Cantata “Can You Imagine That” by Susan Corbett Pons.

Mrs. Burns is survived by her children, Carl Lee Burns and his wife, Denise, of Morganton and Jeanie Ruth Tatum and her husband, Danny, of Statesville, NC; grandchildren, Lauren Burns Denton and her husband, Rob, Meredith Burns Felizzi and her husband, Jay, David Tatum, and Jonathan Tatum and his wife, Kaitie; and great-grandchildren, Jackson, Hampton, Kennedy, and Harper Leigh Denton, Beckett, Presley, and Carlin Felizzi, and Loralee Tatum.

In addition to her parents, Vertie was preceded in death by her brothers, Ollis Chester, Clyde Piercy, and James “Jay” Piercy.

The family will receive friends from 1- 4 p.m., Sunday, August 14, 2016 at Pleasant View Baptist Church.  The funeral will be held at 4 p.m. in the church with the Rev. Dr. John Mason and Rev. Tim Horldt officiating.  Burial will follow at Enon Baptist Church Cemetery.  At other times the family will be at the home of her son, Carl Burns.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.