A Life Lived: Gladys Burrough touched many lives by her Christian living

Published 1:21 pm Tuesday, September 6, 2022

In Ecclesiastes 9:10 we are told: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.”

Gladys Burrough found joy in doing for others. She was a people person, who enjoyed being with people, both young and old. Until she became disabled, Gladys worked in the nursery at Biltmore Baptist Church and taught the small children. She was also church pianist for a number of years. Growing up, she attended Northside Baptist Church. She also often attended church with her husband, Carl, at First Christian Church, Elizabethton. Faith and worship were an important part of Gladys’ life. It was the reason behind so many things she did.

Gladys died August 6 at the age of 71.

Carl said Gladys was a wonderful wife to him and a friend to so many. She enjoyed people and helping others. “She and her sister, Dare, cooked and fed so many people, especially neighbors and friends when they were sick. She enjoyed cooking and sharing with others,” said Carl.

Gladys retired from Snap-on Tools after 35 years of service. In her younger years, she had worked for a brief time at the old Carter County Memorial Hospital and Carter County Bank. Additionally, she was a member of the Carter County Crewettes and helped with many of their projects and activities. “While working at Snap-on and after her retirement, she and a number of co-workers would get together once a month and go out to eat. That was something she looked forward to,” said Carl, who worked for the Elizabethton Police Department for many years.

In addition to her work outside the home, Gladys was a good housekeeper. “She kept our home clean and neat. She enjoyed working in the house, as well as outside. She often helped me with the yard work and she enjoyed flowers,” said Carl.

He has fond memories of his wife. “At the end of every day, she sat down and read her Bible and she always prayed before meals. She was a good Christian lady. In all the years that I was married to her, I never heard her say a dirty word. And, rarely did she get upset,” Carl shared.

Gladys spent much of her time doing for others, but she did like to travel some. “She enjoyed visiting my sister in Las Vegas, Nev., and she had a sister in Indiana whom she visited some,” said Carl. “But, for the most part she enjoyed being at home and when we weren’t working, we just enjoyed spending time together. She was very supportive of me. She was by my side 50 years,” shared Carl.

Gladys came from a family of nine children — five girls and four boys. Two of her brothers preceded her in death as did a sister. “A sister, Dare, was just like a mother to Gladys. They were very close and did a lot of things together,” Carl said.

Gladys Burrough was one of those people who did a lot of things for others, but she didn’t make a lot of fuss about it. If there was a need, she did something about it, not just talk about it. She didn’t wear her Christianity on her sleeve for others to see, she quietly lived it by serving others.

Gladys Burrough has gone to her heavenly reward, but she will not soon be forgotten. She made her mark while on this earth.