Burma Stallings Edwards

Burma Gaye Stallings Richardson Edwards was born in Stateline, Louisiana, on July 4, 1935, to Judge Nile and Mattie Lois (Crain) Stallings. She passed peacefully from this world at the age of 90 to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on December 12, 2025, at 12:10 am after succumbing to the effects of a stroke.

Burma was the second of six children in the Stallings family. She had fond memories of growing up on the 10-acre farm where they grew or raised most everything they needed. In her words, “No, I have never hoed cotton, but I have made soap from lard and Red Devil lye. Saturdays were spent doing the family washing and ironing – usually with 2 irons being used most of the day. You see, it was before wash and wear when everything had to be starched, sprinkled and ironed. Sundays, we went to Superior Avenue Baptist Church and took long walks behind our house.”

Burma graduated from Bogalusa High School in 1953. There she was active in music as a member of the BHS Mixed Chorus, girls Glee Club and a member of the Sextet. She attended state music rallys in both group and solo competition. In her words, “ I really enjoyed the talent shows at school where I sang country western – when it was “hill billy”. This was very distressing to my vocal music teacher. I can still hear him now, “You are going to ruin your voice! I now need a bucket to carry my tune in, but I still love to try to sing.”

After graduation Burma entered Charity Hospital School of Nursing in New Orleans. In her words, “I loved it, but still quit a year-and-a-half later to marry my high school sweetheart, Willie Bernard Richardson. Through the years I have worked as a non-licensed Practical Nurse at Desporte’s Clinic, a dental assistant for J.P. Langston and Robert Blake, a medical record librarian, a credit clerk at Sears and a credit clerk for a Ford dealership. In 1958 I joined Crown Zellerbach in the Estimating Department of the Container division”.

Burma resigned from CZ after the birth of her first child in 1961 but returned after the birth of her second child in 1963. She moved to the Southern Timber division in 1978 but returned to the Container division where she retired from the Gaylord Box Plant as a Customer Service Representative in the late 80’s.

After her marriage with Willie B. ended, Burma married S. Fred Edwards. The two lived in Flippin, Arkansas, until 2021 when she returned to Louisiana to live in Hammond after Fred’s passing.

Burma loved the Lord and Woodland Park Baptist Church where she attended Sunday School and worship services regularly. She loved to crochet and made several hundred “scrubbies” for her family and friends and also crocheted many blankets and throws for her children and grandchildren. She loved watching birds, especially hummingbirds, and spent many hours watching the feeders outside her windows trying to identify each bird. She also enjoyed cooking and family gatherings.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Judge Nile and Mattie Lois Crain Stallings, her husbands, Willie B. Richardson and S. Fred Edwards, her brothers-in-law, W. W. “Flop” Walker, M. D. “Donnie” Ross, Price Cain and James Saxon “Pete” Farmer.

Burma is survived by her four children, Lisa Richardson of Hammond, La., Pamela Richardson of Natchitoches, La., Barry (Lori) Richardson of Brusly, La., and Kristie (special friend, Robert Laws) Richardson of Bogalusa, La., two step-sons Stylie and Fred (Linda) Edwards, nine grandchildren, Corey (Ashley) Amacker, Randi (Joseph) Mizell, LeAnne (Jacob) Teal, Jordan (Bethany) Gerald, Brady (Kamille) and Bailey Richardson, Brittany and Angele Corkern and Kelsey (Austin) St. Pierre, two step-grandchildren Danielle and Kelton Edwards, and 19 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by four sisters, Nadine Walker, Shirley Ross, Eileen Cain and Debbie Farmer and one brother Robert Stallings and many nieces and nephews as well as great nieces and nephews and their children.

The family would like to send a special thanks to the staff at North Oaks Medical Center, Richard Murphy Hospice House and Modern Hospice for the excellent care Burma received.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life at Woodland Park Baptist Church in Hammond, Louisiana on December 27, 2025, beginning at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, the family requests donations to be sent to Richard Murphy Hospice House at 1109 South Chestnut Street, Hammond, La., 70403, or www.richardmurphyhospice.com.