Geneva Joyce Burroughs

On August 21, 1928, a beautiful baby girl was born and given the name Geneva Joyce. She was born to Ruben and Daisy Bell Flowers.

Mrs. Geneva Joyce Burroughs went home to be with her Lord at 1:15 a.m. (recorded time) on November 6, 2024. 

Geneva was born in Haines City, Florida, and is the fifth child in a family of 12 children. She attended Oakland High School, and she was converted at an early age at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church where her family attended.

She graduated from Oakland High School in 1946 and attended Walker’s Business College where she was pursuing a career as a secretary, in Jacksonville, Florida. There she met Calvin Lorenzo Burroughs, and it was love at first sight. They were married on June 8, 1947.

Being married to an Air Force man gave her the opportunity to travel the world, which she enjoyed very much. While overseas, she worked as a Red Cross volunteer at the base hospital, and she sang with the Base Chapel Choir.

They traveled all over the world from England, Spain, New Mexico, Montana, and Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada. When assigned to a post in Bangor, Maine, they were blessed with a child named Cheryl Elaine who became the Love of their life.

Her Husband received orders to report to McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, California. The family arrived in October 1970. They lived on Base until they moved to a permanent home in 1971. They attended Base Chapel services, until they joined Murph-Emmanuel A.M.E. Church in the late 1980’s, where she was affiliated with the Alyce Fobbs-Washington Missionary Society, where she was inducted into the California Conference Cleo B. Love Hall of Recognition in 2016. She was also affiliated with the Women of Emmanuel, the Lay Organization, the Stewardess Board and was a Small Group Leader, up until the time that she passed. She also belonged to The Auxilliary of The Masonic Order consisting of The Loyal Ladies, retiring back in 2016. LL Geneva J. Burroughs was the Past Loyal Lady Ruler of the Estelle E. Houston Assembly #299.

Preceding her in death was her husband Calvin Burroughs, Father and Mother Ruben and Daisy Bell Flowers. Sisters: Ruby F. Herndon, Bertha F. Ayers (Jacksonville, Florida), Georgia Ann Brown, Florence F. Kendrick, Mabelle (Peggy) Myers, and Edith F. Christian (Haines City, Florida). Brothers: John Flowers, Owen Flowers (Haines City, Florida), Christopher Flowers (Brooklyn, New York), and Jerome Flowers, (Columbus, Ohio). She leaves to grieve a loving daughter Cheryl Elaine Loyce Burroughs (Sacramento, California), and sister Alma R. Flowers (Jacksonville, Florida). 

Geneva was a warm, gentle soft-spoken woman of God. She cherished her family and friends. She will be missed by a host of nieces, nephews, grands, great grands, and friends from North, South, East, and West. Today we say goodbye to this earthly form called Geneva, and rejoice in her spirit with our Lord.

Send condolence cards to Cheryl Burroughs, the Burroughs Family, at P.O. Box 276723, Sacramento, CA 95827.