IRVINGTON—Irma Henderson Burke, the oldest resident at Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury in Irvington, went to be with her Lord and Savior on March 14, 2026.
She will join her parents, Leslie Pascal and Catherine Brent Lawson Henderson; her husband, Wade Raleigh Burke; her sisters, Augusta Dize, Gwendolyn McKendree and Celeste Davis; her brothers, Orville and Vergil Henderson; her granddaughter, Amy Brent Dawson; and niece and nephew, Maxine Dize Somervell and Dane Dize.
Irma was born on September 25, 1915, on a 40-acre family farm outside White Stone on Pigtail Alley (now Mosquito Point Road) on land that was part of the original Lawson tract dating back to the 1600s. Being the great-granddaughter of Major Charles N. Lawson (Lawson-Ball Encampment), she enjoyed family and local history as well as traveling, working in her flowers, any type of handiwork, reading and her grandchildren.
Mrs. Burke graduated from White Stone High School in 1932 and joined the workforce at Peoples Bank of White Stone in January 1933. Peoples Bank was acquired by Bank of Virginia and in September 1977, Irma retired as loan discount officer for the bank’s Northern Neck area.
Irma was wed to Wade Raleigh Burke from May of 1936 until his death in December of 1962. She was a loyal member of White Stone Baptist Church.
After Irma’s retirement from banking, she volunteered at Rappahannock General Hospital for 27 years, serving 12,000 hours and knitting countless baby caps for its nursery. Along with other volunteers, a Red Hat group was formed and they enjoyed outings, lunches and even a parade or two plus friendships that lasted far beyond.
A lifelong resident of White Stone, Irma moved to Independent Living at Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury in June of 2004. She was presented RWC’s Living Well Award in October 2009. In April 2015, she moved to Assisted Living. She was honored to cut the ribbon for the grand opening of the Life Enrichment Center at RWC in 2017. After a fall and hip fracture in February of 2022, Irma was moved to the Health Center where she resided until her death.
Mrs. Burke celebrated her 105th birthday during Covid, with the first drive-through parade at RWC. On September 10, 2025, Irma was interviewed by CBS Channel 6’s Greg McQuade for his segment, “I Have a Story,” which aired September 19-21. At a reception held on September 25, 2025, Irma’s 110th birthday, she was presented a letter of congratulations from Governor Youngkin. William B. Hubbard, Mayor of White Stone, presented Irma a Resolution and the key to the Town of White Stone. On December 12, 2025, Mrs. Burke was grand marshal of the Kilmarnock Christmas parade.
This remarkable lady is survived by her daughter, Catharine Burke Moore (Wade) of Lancaster; and grandson, Burke Dawson, of Tyler, Texas; plus a number of beloved nieces and nephews and their families.
Words cannot express the family’s gratitude and appreciation for the care and love that Irma received from staff and administration at RWC.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to White Stone Baptist Church, P. O. Box 45, White Stone, VA 22578 or Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury Foundation, 132 Lancaster Drive, Irvington, VA 22480.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, at Currie Funeral Home in Kilmarnock. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 23, at Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury in Irvington. Burial will be private.
