Lillian Henry Burt

Lillian Henry Burt of Smyrna, Georgia passed away on September 21, 2026 at the age of 95. Born in Murray County, Georgia to Dane and Daisy Henry on July 18, 1931, Mrs. Burt was predeceased by her parents, her husband Ervin Burt, son Kenneth Ervin Burt, sisters Martha Young and Rossie Ann Henry, and brothers James Henry and Lamarr Henry. She is survived by her daughter Karen Renee Burt of Smyrna GA, sisters Sherry Hayes (Tommy) of Beaverdale GA, Doris Black of Chamblee GA, Markay Wiley and Patricia West of Decatur GA, and her brothers Waymond Henry (Barbara) of Cumming GA, Paul Henry (Elizabeth) of Temecula CA, and Terry Henry (Charlene) of Chatsworth GA, as well as lifelong friend Linda Eastburn of Kingston TN. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

One of twelve children raised on the Henry Georgia Centennial Family Farm in Beaverdale, the young Miss Burt was graduated from Murray County High School in 1948. Following high school, she worked alongside her mother in a carpet mill in Chatsworth GA until 1951 when she enlisted in the Marine Corps. She was on active duty until 1956, completing Boot Camp at Paris Island SC, Supply School at Camp LeJune NC, and being stationed at the Supply Depot in San Francisco, USMC Recruiting Station in Salt Lake City, and finally the 6th Marine Corps District Headquarters in Atlanta. Following her active duty service, Miss Burt served with the 6th Marine Corps Reserve and the Navy Reserve until 1963. After separation from military service, she attended the University of Georgia where she lived in the YWCA until her graduation with a degree in Journalism. Following college graduation, she met a handsome, blue-eyed Ervin Burt who swept her off her feet. They married in 1963 and had two children, Kenneth and Karen. When the children were a bit older, Mrs. Burt enrolled at Georgia State University where she earned a teaching certificate, taking little Karen (and her coloring book) along to class. Mrs. Burt first taught at Green Acres Elementary School in Smyrna and then Skyview Elementary School in Mableton, retiring after 22 years with the Cobb County School System. A remarkably creative teacher, she taught her students to march Marine style, a source of great pride to those children. A hobbyist potter, she engineered the installation of a kiln at Skyview for her students. Astonishing as it seems now, she arranged for her students to take a real airplane flight with Delta Airlines, taking off from the Atlanta airport, flying to Alabama where they picnicked, and then triumphantly returning to Atlanta. Mrs. Burt even somehow procured a military parachute for her students to play with on the playground. Since her retirement, former students occasionally seek her out to reminisce about the good old days and to thank her for the very positive influence she had on them.

A funeral service will take place at 2PM on Thursday, September 24, at Sumach Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 9203 GA Hwy 225, Chatsworth GA with Dr. Tom Clark officiating. Visitation is from 1PM until 2PM in the church. The funeral service will conclude at the graveside with full military honors.

Peeples Funeral Home & Crematory of Chatsworth has been entrusted with the arrangements for Lillian Henry Burt.