Mrs. Rosa Marie Rutherford Burns, 81, of Tupelo, MS, formerly of Batesville, passed away on Thursday, May 4, 2017 in Tupelo.

Mrs. Burns was born on March 16, 1936 in Memphis, TN to The Late Mertice Linda Brooks Rutherford and Alma Alexander Rutherford. She was a member of Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church. A loving wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, she will be deeply missed by those her knew her.

Mrs. Burns leaves behind her loving family including her daughters, Mary Smith of Tupelo, MS, Francis Raines (Mitchell) and Linda Duke (Johnny), both of Batesville, MS; her sons, Sammy Burns (Robbie) of Nesbit, MS and Gene Burns of Tupelo, MS; her sisters, Louise Avery, Voliet Lucas and Joy Welch; twelve grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wendell Burns and her parents.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 8, 2017 at 2pm in the chapel of Dickins Funeral Home with Rev. Ben Elliott officiating. Interment will follow in Chapel Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Monday from 12pm-2pm in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Dickins Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.