Rice Jefferson Burke Sr

Mr. Rice Jefferson Burke, Jr., 86, retired from the U. S. Postal Service and resident of Glenrose Drive, died Saturday, February 18, 2006 at NHC Hillview. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at Oakes & Nichols with John Payne and Charles Williamson officiating. Graveside services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. at Harpeth Hills Memorial Gardens on Highway 100 in Nashville with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19. The family will visit with friends Monday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Columbia Academy, 1101 West 7th Street, Columbia 38401, American Heart Association, 1818 Patterson Street, Nashville 37203 or American Cancer Society, P.O.Box 1212, Columbia 38402. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com. A native of Christian County, Kentucky, he was the son of the late Rice Jefferson Burke, Sr. and Mattie Bea Joiner Burke. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was a member of Graymere Church of Christ. Mr. Burke retired from the U. S. Postal Service in Lewisburg and He also formerly made his home in Robertson and Hickman counties prior to moving to Columbia in 1992. He was a member of the Rural Lettter Carriers Association and Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19. Survivors include his wife, Virginia Blair Burke of Columbia; nieces, Debbie (Roger) Garner, Melissa Gibson and a nephew, James D. Burke. He was preceded in death by a sister, Alice Dyer and a brother, Hugh Eugene Burke. Active pallbearers are Glenn Ferrell, Howard Robinson, Robert Waddell, Mike Smith, Jr., Billy Martin, Melvin Reaves, W. C. "Wimpy" Jones, Roger Garner and Jason Golden. Elders and Deacons of Graymere Church of Christ will serve as honorary pallbearers.