Ella Jane Tomlin Burris, 86, of Statesville, N.C., passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, May 22, 2022, at the Gordon Hospice House.

Mrs. Burris was born May 24, 1935, in Iredell County, N.C., and was the oldest daughter of the late James Alexander Tomlin and Beulah Campbell Tomlin. She was married on May 31, 1980, to Roy Felton Burris, who preceded her in death.

Ella Jane was a 1953 graduate of Cool Spring High School, a 1961 graduate from Palmer Business College in Columbia, S.C., and retired from First ARP Church as the church secretary. Mrs. Burris was named United Methodist Woman of the Year in 1992 at Christ Boulevard UMC and was recognized for her work in the church and her circle. She was a member of Western Avenue Baptist Church but attended New Hope Baptist Church with family in her later years. Jane loved baking, sewing, quilting and working in her yard, and she enjoyed her word search books to keep her busy. She is remembered by many for her famous fruit cakes, hand-pieced quilts, neck pillows and lovely handwritten notes.

Those left to cherish her memory are her niece, Angela Clontz; one brother, Reid Tomlin (Glenda); three sisters, Margaret Johnson, Bessie Josey, and Doris Childers; one son, Jack Tomlin (Dana); one grandson; four great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews as well as her caregivers, Sue Jones (best friend, running buddy and “partner in crime”), Laken Collins, Jan Bilyeu, Susan Jordan and family friend, Richard Robertson. The family would like to thank these individuals for their constant love and care of Aunt Jane.

A service celebrating Ella Jane’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 25, in the Troutman Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Terry Myers officiating. A private burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Concord, N.C., where she will be laid to rest with the Burris family.

Memorials may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County at 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625.

Troutman Funeral Home is serving the family.