Eva Burress

Canton – Eva Mae Reece Burress, 89, passed away on Thursday, December 29, 2022 at her residence.

Eva Mae was a native of Clay County and the last sibling of her family to pass.  She had lived most of her adult life in Haywood County and was a daughter of the late Charlie and Eva Dye Reece.  She was born in 1933 and married Walter Carroll Burress in 1948.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sons, Roger and Randy Burress; five sisters, Mildred McFalls, Evelyn Freeman, Edna Chambers, Ellen Henson, and Stella Owens; three brothers, Paul, Algie, and Roe Reece; a daughter-in-law, Melinda Baldwin Burress and a grandson, Clint Burress.  Eva Mae was an avid canner filling two to three thousand jars every fall, then sharing food with others.    She always had a beautiful smile for everyone she met and was a wonderful wife, grandmother, aunt, and friend.  Eva Mae was a member of East Fork Baptist Church, which was founded by her grandfather, John Valentine Reece, from 1948 until her death.  Eva Mae loved her church, taught kids in Sunday school for 17 years, and loved working in the kitchen making meals for people.

She is survived by her husband of 74 years, Walter Carroll Burress; son, David Neal Burress (Cecilia) of Balsam; nine grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and a special niece, Linda Greene.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 1, 2023 at East Fork Baptist Church with the Reverend Mark Tice and Reverend Greg Cullen officiating.  Burial will follow at New Cruso Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:30 p.m. prior to the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to East Fork Baptist Church, 13175 Cruso Road, Canton, NC  28716.

The care of Mrs. Burress has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes of Canton.