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Evelyn Burneva Delancey Ellzey was born in Bogalusa on July 22, 1922, to the late Letha Mae Pittman Delancey and T.W. Delancey and went to her heavenly home on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022, at the age of 100 years.

She lived a long and blessed life and she was extremely proud, just one month ago, to celebrate her 100 birthday with her entire family and close friends. After spending much of her childhood in Bogalusa, the family moved to Pine, where she graduated from Pine High School in 1939 before attending Soule Business School in New Orleans. She married the late William J. Ellzey in 1943 and together they raised their three daughters in Pine. Burneva earned her degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and taught business education for over 20 years at Pine High School. After her husband’s death, she obtained her Special Education certification from Southeastern Louisiana University at the age of 73 and returned to Pine to serve her beloved students. Burneva was described in a newspaper article by Bob Ann Breland in 1999 as “an educator teaching with a full heart” and she most certainly did to countless young people through the years.

Burneva was an active member of several organizations during her life, including the Eastern Star, the Franklinton Garden Club as well as serving at the Flower House at the Washington Parish Fair and other committee memberships. She a charter member of Pine First Baptist Church and spent many years serving the Lord at Pine, Hillcrest Baptist Church, Edna Baptist Church and Angie Baptist Church, as she attended each at different times during her lifetime. In the 1980s, she was sent by the Home Mission Board for mission work in Arizona and she spent many summers serving at the GA’s Camp in Alabama. After living again in Bogalusa later in life, she then moved for the final time to Columbia, Miss., where she loved hosting her family for Sunday dinners and other special occasions. Burneva was honored, along with her daughter Jean, as Grand Marshals of the Pine High School Homecoming Festivities in 2014. She was a woman of faith, family and service. Her legacy will live beyond her years in the lives of her family, church friends and many beloved students.

She is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Joan and James Kirby of Pensacola, Fla., Jean Knight of Pine, and Tommye and Clyde Woodward of Columbia; grandchildren and spouses, Christopher and Catherine Woodward, Sonya and Robbie Gates, all of Columbia, Jodie and Jim Gasquet of Belle Chasse, Wendy and Brian Miller of Pine, Dustin and Kolbi Knight of Improve, Miss., Erin and Tony Gleason of Pensacola, Michael and Stacey Kirby of Leonardtown, Md., and Connor Kirby of Portland, Maine; great-grandchildren, Jay, Jack and Jillian Gasquet, Koby, Kaitlyn, and Kole Miller, Kade, Kolt, Lilli, Kash, and Knox Knight, Riley and Andrew Gleason, and Caroline and Foster Kirby; sister, Sue Martin Lowery and her daughters Jenny Branch and Pam Ledet; and also numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and former students.

She was also preceded in death by son-in-law, Ronald Knight; granddaughter, Elizabeth Kirby; special aunt, Velma Seal; and many childhood friends.

Visitation will be at Crain Funeral Home on Wednesday, Aug. 24, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Visitation will continue Thursday, Aug. 25, at Pine First Baptist Church (27043 Louisiana Highway 62 in Franklinton) from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. A funeral service will be held in the church at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, with the Rev. Larry Mizell and the Rev. David Easterling officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family wishes to express a sincere thank you to all the caregivers that provided loving support to Burneva through the years.

Pallbearers are grandsons and great-grandsons Chris, Dustin, Michael, Robbie, Jay, Andrew and Kole. Honorary pallbearers are her granddaughters and great-granddaughters.

Obituaries can be viewed online at www.crainfh.com.