Emily Shaffner Burge

Emily Shaffner Burge, 90, of Winston-Salem entered into the more immediate presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on April 22, 2022. She was born in Conway, South Carolina on December 21, 1931, to Frank A. Shaffner (Frot) and Lella Burroughs Shaffner. Emily moved to Winston-Salem shortly after birth with her family. She was a graduate of Reynolds High School and attended North Carolina Women’s College in Greensboro, NC (currently UNCG). She was married to John Kenneth Burge on August 11, 1951 and remained so for 65 years until his passing in 2017. She was devoted to her Lord, husband and children.

Her first employment after college was at Western Electric in an Administrative position. She also worked during the early years of her marriage with her husband at Floyd S. Burge Construction Company, until the birth of her first child. She was a stay-at-home mom until both of her children were in school, then she began to work part-time again with her husband.

Emily loved Winston-Salem with its history and proximity to a variety of travel destinations, namely the North Carolina mountains and South Carolina beaches. She loved to read her bible, dance, sing, play the piano, garden, sew and cook for her family. She also loved little children and held a special place in her heart for them.

She was very active in her personal relation with the Lord in numerous ways over the years: as a member of the choir; teaching Sunday School for children and young teen girls; assisting with special church service preparations; visiting the sick and shut-ins; giving the elderly rides to church; calling church members to sing Happy Birthday to them; and most importantly, she would go on door-to-door Evangelism calls with other ladies. She also went with her brother Don for in-home visits and Bible studies, which held a special joy for her.

Emily was also active in numerous civic and political activities, especially in the late 1950’s through 1965. She was a member of the Women’s Winston-Salem and Forsyth County Civil Defense Council, serving in such rolls as Secretary and Vice Chair. She also served a term as the Civil Defense Chair representing Sherwood Forest Elementary School. She volunteered a lot of time campaigning and working the polls for Conservative candidates, and served in 1964 as a Forsyth County GOP delegate. She helped others in their efforts to vote by providing transportation and baby-sitting services. She believed, and taught her children, that voting was a privilege and honor that was not to be taken lightly.

She was preceded in death, by her parents; husband; sister, Gretchen Hauser and her son-in-law, Richard Disher. Surviving is her brother, Donald F. Shaffner and wife Martha of Winston-Salem; daughter, Sandra Burge Disher of East Bend; son, Wayne Douglas Burge and wife Tammy of Winston-Salem; grandson Ryan Hamilton Burge and wife Danielle of Longview, Texas; soon to be great-grandson Weston Jack Burge of Longview, Texas; sister-in-law, JoAnn Long of Birmingham, Alabama; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews. Those of us who remain will miss her, but we rejoice that she is with her Savior and those who have gone home before her.

The family will receive friends from 12:30 – 1:30 pm on Friday, April 29, 2022, at Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home on Silas Creek Parkway in Winston-Salem with a Celebration of Life service at 2:00 pm. Interment will follow at Parklawn Memorial Park located at 2730 Peters Creek Parkway in Winston-Salem.

The family would like to extend their heart-felt gratitude to Emily’s wonderful caregivers at Salemtowne Westerly Place Memory Care, Salemtowne Garden Court Skilled Care and Forsyth Memorial Hospital’s Palliative Care unit.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to South Fork Church of Christ, Senior Services of Winston-Salem, Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Online condolences can be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.