Gladys Mae (Black) Burnside Obituary (1927 - 2020)

Gladys Mae Black Burnside, age 92, peacefully passed away on Thursday, January 2, 2020 surrounded by her family. Born on December 30, 1927, to William and Margaret Black on Sugar Creek in Garrard County, Gladys found joy in every day the Lord made, expressing her passion through love, service, and work. Gladys considered God's love as this life's greatest gift, and she freely shared this belief through both word and example. Gladys found love in her marriage to the late Ralph Taylor Burnside on February 25, 1948, followed by the birth of their two children, Virginia Colette May (Eddie) and Ralph Ray Burnside (Tracy). From this foundation, Gladys's love spread through her growing family of grandchildren, Heather May Stoll (Jeff), Aaron Kyle May (Andrea), and Keeton Taylor Burnside and continues on through her great-grandchildren Connor Daniel Stoll, Maggie Maye Stoll, Lucy Claire May, and Samuel Taylor May. Beyond her family life, Gladys dedicated herself to the service of others in both her personal life and community service. A faithful member of Stanford Baptist Church, she taught children's Sunday School for five decades, led children's Bible Drill instruction, served as the Memorial Chairman, the Bus Ministry Chairman, a member of the hospitality committee, and as a church greeter. In the community, Gladys was the volunteer chairman for the American Heart Association for 17 years and served on the boards of the Fort Logan Hospital Auxiliary, the Harvey Helm Public Library, and Fort Logan Ministry. Gladys did more than attend meetings, though. She embraced the spirit and mission of each organization by giving of her time, energy, talents, and resources. Whether she was collecting donations for the auxiliary luncheon or welcoming visitors to the hospital, Gladys shared a smile, a kind word, and a little bit of fun with everyone she encountered. She was a faithful Christian witness, a loyal friend, and a wonderful mom and Mammy who was always up for an adventure. Gladys was preceded in death by her parents, William and Margaret Black, her twin brother Paul Black, her sister Virginia Nancy Ellen Black Heuser, and her brother William Kenneth Black. Visitation will be held Sunday, January 5, 2020 from 5:00-7:00 pm at Spurlin Funeral Home in Stanford. A funeral service celebrating Gladys's life will be held on Monday, January 6, 2020 at 10:00 am at Stanford Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Buffalo Springs Cemetery. Kyle May, Keeton Burnside, Connor Stoll, Jeff Stoll, John Barber, Steve Lovell, Cecil Witt, Paul Playforth, and Kenny Black will serve as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Fort Logan Ministry, 302 Church Street, Stanford, KY 40484.