Oct. 13, 1919 – Aug. 31, 2011

NATCHEZ — Services for Margaret Burns, 91, of Natchez, who died Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011, at Magnolia House in Natchez, will be at 11 a.m. today at St. Mary Basilica with the Rev. Alfred Camp officiating.

Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time today at the church.

Miss Burns was born Oct. 13, 1919, in Natchez, the third daughter and fifth child of Francis Parnell Burns and Honora Grady Burns. She was a lifelong resident of Natchez. She was a graduate of St. Joseph’s High School, now Cathedral School, and of MSCW. After teaching 37 years in the Natchez public schools, she retired in 1977.

Miss Burns loved to travel and in the 1950s, she made a grand tour of Europe. Her other travels included Australia, Alaska, British Isles, Canada, Caribbean cruises, the Panama Canal as well as visiting much of the United States by automobile or bus.

Miss Burns was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Patrick P. Burns Sr., Anthony G. Burns, Peter T. Burns Sr. and Andrew Burns; two sisters, Noreen B. Aubic and Mary Agnes B. Frye; and two nephews, LeRoy Garrity and Conway Aubic.

Survivors include one sister, Ann Elizabeth B. Garrity; two sisters-in-law, Therese C. Burns and Alice W. Burns; 10 nephews, Patrick Burns Jr., Parnell Burns, Andrew Burns, Peter Burns Jr., Dr. Byron Garrity, Tim Burns, John G. Burns, David Burns, Paul Burns and Joe Garrity; 14 nieces, Irma Louise Burns, Julie B. Riley, Annette B. Burns, Ann Burns, Margaret B. Humble, Catherine B. Spence, Noreen B. Pyron, Frances B. Cothren, Elodie G. Maier, Marie G. Davis, Carla Burns, Jane B. Bush, Melanie B. Kennedy and Mary Agnes G. Shell; 16 great-nieces; 34 great-nephews; 20 great-great-nieces; 14 great-great-nephews; and one great-great-great-nephew.

Pallbearers will be nephews.

The family wishes to thank the staff and management of Magnolia House as well as Hospice Campassus. The family also thanks Cora Edney, Clara Green, Camille Barnes and Elizabeth Davis.

Miss Burns and her siblings started the Burns-Grady Fund as a memorial to their parents. The corpus of the fund remains while the interest earned is periodically distributed to Cathedral School. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Margaret be made to the Burns-Grady Memorial Trust at P.O. Box 2248, Jackson, MS 39209, Cathedral School or St. Mary Basilica.

Online condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.