Julie Burks

June 4, 1962 - November 17, 2015

JULIE LEONARD BURKSTupelo - Julie Leonard Burks, 53, died Tuesday, November 17, 2015, after a brave battle with cancer. She was born June 4, 1962, in Denver, Colorado to Richard and June Voyles Leonard. Julie was a 1980 graduate of Tupelo High School, attended Mississippi State University, and obtained a degree from Itawamba Community College. She was a longtime employee of Jim Bain's Pharmacy before going to work for the Tupelo Public School System as a medical assistant at Parkway Elementary School. Julie was devoted to her students and loved being part of the Parkway family. She also enjoyed any and all kinds of music, reading and spending time with friends and family.Julie's faith was especially important to her and she called the Orchard United Methodist Church her home of faith. She took great delight working with the Orchard's summer reading program, Vacation Bible School, and Fall Festival.Services will be 1 p.m. Friday, November 20, 2015 at the Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with Rev. Will Rambo officiating. A private family burial will be in Henry Cemetery in Corinth where she will be laid to rest beside her father.Survivors include her beloved husband of 28 years, William "Buffer" Burks of Tupelo; two children, Mitchell Burks and Molly Beth Burks of Tupelo; sister, Molly L. Farned (Alex) of Tupelo; brother, Richard Leonard, Jr. of Huntsville, Alabama; nephew, Richard Leonard, III. of Huntsville, Alabama; mother, June Voyles Leonard of Tupelo; grandmother, Lila Briggs Voyles of Corinth.She was preceded in death by her father, Richard Young Leonard.Pallbearers will be Greg Akins, Gary Michaels, Jackie Harris, Don Lewis, Jim Bain and Mike Perkins.Visitation will be 5 until 8 p.m. Thursday, November 19, 2015, and one hour prior to the service at W. E. Pegues, Tupelo.Memorials may be made to the Orchard, 1379 Coley Road, Belden, MS, 38826, Juvenile Diabetes Association, www.jdrf.org/diabetes_foundation, or Sanctuary Hospice House, 5159 Main St. Tupelo, MS, 38801.Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com.https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/KDDSSD7SPX2PJTF4Click on link above to view Video Tribute