Laverne Myrick Burnette
August 29, 1927 - April 9, 2025

Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home 943 Highway 425 North Monticello, AR 71655 Map & Directions Funeral Services First Baptist Church 413 N. Main Monticello ,  AR 71655 4/15/2025 1:00 p.m. Map & Directions   Memorial Park Cemetery 6707 Dollarway Rd White Hall, AR 71602 Map & Directions

Laverne Myrick Burnette, age 97 formerly of Monticello, went to be with her Lord and Savior Thursday, April 9, 2025, at Green House Cottages of Belle Mead in Paragould. Born on August 29, 1927, in Star City, Arkansas, she was the daughter of William and Mary Eleanor Myrick. Laverne graduated high school and soon after moved to Monticello where she got her first job waiting tables. Mother loved her job, her employer and the girls she worked and lived with. One of the fun things they loved to do was to get a ride out to one of the "country dances" where, through the cab driver that drove them, she met and married G. Richard Burnette, who had just returned from serving in WWII. They were married for 35 years until his untimely death of cancer in 1982. Those early years kept them in Monticello where the first two of their three children, Dianne and David were born. Dad took a job with Arkansas Power and Light and that prompted a move to Hamburg and the birth of their third child, Mary.

Mother created a wonderful life for us there from being a great wife and mother, she was active in First Baptist Church. Tirelessly leading vacation bible school, working with the GA’S, high school band mom and working at Walker Hardware where she helped Nelle Brewer open and operate the first “boutique” gift shop. She always enjoyed her daily activities at work and the relationships she built. We fondly reference it to growing up in" Mayberry". After working many years in Hamburg, dad was transferred to Crossett and the family relocated there as he continued his utility work. After Dad's passing, mother moved from Crossett back to Monticello where she still had many close friends and family nearby. Mother became fiercely independent and delved right into rebuilding her life. She worked for a time at the Baptist Children's Home as a house parent while dedicating herself to her new family here at First Baptist. Her passion was serving the Home Bound program which she enjoyed getting out and sharing her faith and the word of God with folks who were not able to attend church. Our Mother walked her faith. Later on, you would find Laverne at the doors of the church on Sunday mornings greeting everyone as they came in; handing out bulletins always with a smile, a quick laugh and a twinkle in her eyes.

Our mother was greatly loved by all who knew her. She was loved by her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews as well as her many friends. She ALWAYS remembered them on special days and occasions with a card and a note. Her thoughtfulness was reciprocated from the hundreds of cards she had saved through the years that she had received. We were blessed to be able to read many of these and step into time capsules of each card’s moments in life. Growing up we were surrounded by love, trust, companionship and faith. We are who we are today because of our mother's gentle guiding hand. She will be greatly missed. Laverne was one of ten children and along with her parents and many of her siblings who have preceded her in death, plus her eldest daughter, Dianne (Sissy) Billingsley. Her surviving siblings are Margaret (Stan) Olson of Ft. Smith, Arkansas, Barbar Jacks of Greenbriar, Arkansas, Herman (Pauline) Myrick of Star City, Arkansas and Dale Myrick of N. Little Rock, Arkansas.

She is survived by her son David Richard (Mary Leigh) Burnette of Jonesboro, Arkansas and daughter Mary Elizabeth Hagemeyer of Emigrant, Montana.

Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at the First Baptist Church of Monticello. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in White Hall, alongside her husband Richard and daughter Dianne. Memorials may be made to the Arkansas Baptist Home for Children in Monticello.


I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love has appearing.

2 Timothy 4: 7-8

I wonder if you ever realized what a good example you were for others. The wonderful way you lived your life, the unconditional kindness you showed others, all the things that you did and that you are, touched the lives of the people around you.

You were sincere in your beliefs, so determined to be the sort of person God wants us to be, that people were inspired by you, they saw the satisfaction you got from your faith, from the courage of your convictions and it helped them to try and live the same way.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whosoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."

John 8:12


The family of Mrs. Laverne would like to express heartfelt thank-you and extended many blessings to each of you for your love, kindness, prayers and thoughtfulness. The outpouring of calls, texts, prayers and support we received have kept us knowing that we and our mother were not alone on this path. We have all been truly blessed.