Mercedes Pope Burt's Obituary
Mercedes (Pope) Burt (“Mert”) was born on June 15, 1936, in New Orleans, LA in the historic Charity Hospital (established – 1736) to Alvernell “Nell” Galloway (deceased) and Wadsworth “Bump” Pope (deceased). Mert was raised in Columbia, Mississippi (Marion County) – “the City of Charm on the Pearl River” with her older sister Fannie Lu “Fan” – F. Louise (Brown) Thomas (deceased), grandmother – Lucille Mingo Galloway Cyrus (Mama), step grandfather – Jenkin Cyrus (Papa/Daddy), grandfather – Timothy Galloway (Papa Tim), and her formerly enslaved great grandfather Mingo Mingo (Lucy). Mercedes grew up watching her grandmother Lucille (Mama), a very vocal and dynamic community activist who was an ardent member and local president of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs (NACWC). Lucille was an inspiration to Mercedes, as she witnessed her fearless leadership, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship as Lucille hosted a radio program, raised money for a public pool for Black children, and owned and operated several local businesses (with and without her husband) such as a general store, gas station, laundry mat, hair salon, and other needed services in the segregated Black community of Marion County. Always a very active and social child, Mercedes graduated from the Marion County Training School and earned a scholarship to play on the women’s basketball team at Grambling State College (University). As an undergraduate student at Grambling, Mert developed a deep pride and abiding love for the history, mission, and legacies of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), which continues today, with children, grandchildren, nephews, and nieces who are proud graduates of Virginia State, Howard, Norfolk State, Tennessee State, Jackson State, Alcorn State Universities, and Spelman College. In 2016, for her 80th birthday, Mert attended the Bayou Classic, where she witnessed her beloved Grambling Tiger football team beat their rivals, the Southern University Jaguars. Mercedes met the LOVE of her life and husband of 63 years in Hartford, Connecticut, Lamar Burt – and on July 29, 1961, and they were married at Shiloh Baptist Church.
Mercedes met the LOVE of her life and husband of 63 years in Hartford, Connecticut, Lamar Burt – and on July 29, 1961, and they were married at Shiloh Baptist Church. Mercedes (and Lamar) are the proud parents of Frann Elaine Burt, Janeula Marchelle Burt, Ph.D., and Lamar Adetunji Burt (Laurencia). She also is the adoring grandmother of Cameron Ahsan Burt, Arrington Malik Burt, and Brooklyn Skylar Burt – and the proud godmother of Dr. Benika Charrise Dixon. Notably, Mercedes (and Lamar) followed in her grandmother Lucille's fearless and purpose-driven spirit in that where she saw a need or a problem, she proudly and actively stepped up. Mert also exhibited her mother Nell’s (Guyee- to her grandchildren) sense of humor and love for adventure and travel, confidence and independence. “Say it LOUD, I’m Black and I’m PROUD…was her mantra.” Among her friends and family, Mert was well known for her “brown crayon,” that she used to provide melanin to every greeting card she sent. She was (in)famously known for her involvement in the PTA in her children’s all white elementary, middle, and high schools, unapologetically advocating for her children at every turn. Because Black history and culture in their children’s allwhite, public-school education was notably absent, Mert (and Lamar) and her lifelong friends hired a UConn professor to teach their children Black history and culture In the early 1970s, as the Girl Scout Leader of Brownie Troup 415 she indelibly impacted the lives of many little white girls at Langford Elementary School, who 50 years later still remember her as the Black woman with the big Afro who not only exposed them to the houses of Mark Twain, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Katherine Hepburn…but also many other unique Connecticut historical treasures. In Connecticut, South Carolina, and Maryland, Mert (and Lamar) were very active in the political processes at the local, state, and national levels, where they actively and unapologetically participated in the Democratic Party.
After retiring as a Human Resources Analyst at Travelers Insurance Company, she continued to break racial stereotypes and boundaries through her service to the East Hartford community through her mentorship and tutoring of local students. Before relocating to Sun City, South Carolina, Mercedes (and Lamar) were active members of the Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church in Hartford, Connecticut. And while most people physically, mentally, and emotionally “retire” when they retire from working. Mert (and Lamar) decided to leave their home state of Connecticut and bought a home in Bluffton/Hilton Head, SC. Again, for Mercedes, sisterhood and community was a part of her DNA. After moving to Sun City – in 2000, Mercedes, her sister Louise (Fan), and several other ladies that they met in the community, proudly initiated Sisters With A Purpose (SWAP), a social club for the sharing of resources, building community, and the development of a “family” network of support and comfort, especially during times of illness and grief. Mert was forever the life of the party. She probably could have been very successful as a standup comedienne. She told stories of antics and mischief that she had gotten into from her childhood [and adulthood] that would have everybody falling on the floor laughing! Because she never met a stranger, she was the perfect one to become the 4th president of the SWAP sisterhood.
Mercedes also was an active member of the Chums, Inc. a non-profit organization that provides opportunities for women to meet in friendship and fun, to encourage a spirit of helpfulness, and to use their many talents in service to the community. Mert (and Lamar) found a church home in the historic Campbell Chapel AME Church (1874), and were actively involved in fundraising, church boards, and community service – and yes, Mert always had “church candy” in her purse. Again, she dedicated her “free” time to serving the Beaufort County community through her work with Meals on Wheels and the Campbell Chapel AME Church Soup Kitchen. Mercedes found her final church home at the Greater Mt. Nebo AME Church in Bowie, MD. A dedicated athlete, Mert (and Lamar) were avid golfers and traveled frequently and extensively with family and lifelong friends. Between road trips “home” to Columbia, MS, or Opelika, AL (the big O) for family or high school reunions, Mert and Lamar were always willing to travel with family (and extended family) on trips to Chicago, Detroit, Williamsburg, Washington (DC), New Orleans, Orlando, Atlanta, etc. Although she HATED to fly, her most treasured trips were the ones to Hawaii. Cruising to islands in the Caribbean or traveling to professional football games with her friends were also among her favorites. Lamar once remarked that he would say, “Hey, Mert…let’s drive the kids up to Vermont and have lunch.” To which she would quickly respond, “Let me get my purse.”
Mercedes Pope Burt was called Home on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, in the Arbor Memory Care Center in the Collington Life Care Community where she resided with her faithful and loving husband Lamar. And we are forever grateful for the loving and meticulous care from her family of Collington caretakers such as Beverly Dawkins and Linwood Simmons, and the watchful hands and eyes of far too many Collington staff members and residents to name. Mercedes Burt leaves to cherish her memory multiple generations (and decades) of family, friends, and family from Connecticut, South Carolina, Maryland, DC, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, New Jersey, North Carolina, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, Texas, Arizona, California, New York, Louisiana, etc. Mercedes went on to Glory having lived her life through her favorite Bible verse: I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
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