Every two years, we come together as a family to celebrate our memories and reflect on our rich cultural, heritage, and family history. 

Today, the 24th Bi-Annual Burnette Family Reunion Committee would like to share our history and heritage as we celebrate 160 years of family values and tradition.

The Burnette Family traces its history back to over 160 years. Today, our history holds precious memories that extend from Virginia to North Carolina, NY, NJ, DC, MD, Georgia, & Penna. Over time, we can trace our roots back to Adolphus Meade and Burma Graves. Note: Berma Graves was sometimes used with (Be) instead of (Bu). Although the earliest records show the family name as Burnett, two versions of the family name are in use today — Burnett and Burnette.
 
Adolphus Meade ’s Lineage:
It began when Harriet Stewart Meade(born 1831) gave birth to a son named Adolphus Meade in Virginia in 1849. There is nothing known of Adolphus’s father. Later, Adolphus's mother, Harriet married a man named Caesar Bailey. Together, they had nine children: Hattie, John Henry, Thomas, Della, Patty, Sally, Robert, Alice, and Catherine.

Adolphus’s business led him to move to North Carolina from Danville, Virginia where he worked for a white family named, “Burnett.” He took on their last name (Burnett), and Meade became his middle name. He became Adolphus Meade Burnett. He was also known as Meade Burnett. He never returned to Virginia, while rearing his family as Burnette(s) in Warren County, North Carolina.

Burma Graves Lineage:
What is known of the Burma Graves family goes back to her grandmother, Eliza Graves. There is no record of whether Eliza was married. Nevertheless, Eliza had two children, a son named Ben Graves, and a daughter named Frances. Frances was a Cherokee Indian and she lived to be 98 years old.

Frances Graves had two daughters, Fannie Graves and Burma Graves. Fannie’s father was William Drummond, a white man.  Burma was born in 1853 and her father was a man named Missouri Stewart.   

Later, Frances Graves married Ben Merritt, and they had two children  —  Ann Eliza and Johnny Merritt.   Burma's sister, Fannie Graves, became a midwife, and she married Daniel Robinson and they had four children:  Emily, Hattie, Minnie, and Georgia. However, we have no record of what became of Frances Graves two children, Ann Eliza, and Johnny Merritt.

On January 8, 1870, Adolphus Meade Burnett and, 21-year-old, Burma Graves were married by Reverend John Claiborne in Brunswick County, Virginia. Together they had six children: George, Edgar, Robert, Mattie, Nannie, and Willie.
 
 As stated earlier, Burma Graves was born in 1853 to Frances Graves and Missouri Stewart.  Later in life, she was known as “Momma Burma” to all who knew her.  We are told that Momma Burma had long black hair down to her waist and wore a size four shoe.  Unfortunately, Momma Burma was widowed at a young age. Records show that Adolphus Meade died somewhere between 1896 and 1901; Momma Burma was between 43 and 48 years old.
 
Later in life, On June 20, 1923, Momma Burma fractured her hip; we are not sure how this happened. However, the next day, June 21, 1923, she died at the age of 70. 

Before Momma Burma died, she asked that her favorite flower, tulips, be planted at her grave.
Burma Graves Burnett is buried at Russell Union Church in the Oine community. On Meade’s and Burma’s children’s death certificates, her maiden name is listed as both Burma Graves and Burma Merritt.

As we rejoice and celebrate our past, we must empower the next generation to “Keep the Family Roots Strong”.

Today, "Burnette Roots are STRONG and healthy!” We are blessed with greatness and strong FAITH! The Burnette family continues to grow, not just in numbers but also in God’s love. God will continue to be the center of our lives; as a result, God continues to bless the Burnette Family in all ways.(i.e., Careers, Professional Educators, Business Owners, Government Officials, Lawyers, Doctors, Engineers, Politicians, and Pastors)