Elouise Burroughs-Mayo

She was the youngest of 4 girls and the beloved baby sister to Irene Adams, Loretta Davis, and Doretha Duvernay.

At the young age of 12 years old, Elouise and her mother moved from Texas to San Francisco California. She attended Girls High School and upon graduation from high school she immediately pursued her passion for music at City College as a Music Major.

In 1951 she met and married the love of her life, Bill H. Burroughs. Elouise and William were blessed with 3 beautiful daughters, Venita, Tonia, and Rosetta.

Elouise enjoyed her time as a home maker, playing the piano and organ for various churches throughout the Bay Area. It wasn't until their daughters became school age that Elouise decided to begin working outside of the home, part time at Macy's.

She worked at the Presidio in San Francisco, and a short time later she was told about a position at the Salvation Army as an Administrative Assistant and Elouise decided to pursue the position. Elouise not only was awarded the position but had such a passion for the work of the Salvation Army that she continued to work with them until her retirement 30+ years later.

She especially loved to travel with her husband and children, and as a family they spent summers in Portland Oregon, weeks in Seattle, Texas, Monterey, Canada, Mexico and enjoyed lazy, laughter filled days in the sun on the beaches of Hawaii and Jamaica. However her favorite family vacations was her annual trip to Portland, Oregon to visit with her sister Loretta. Elouise continued this tradition with her grandchildren.

But with as much love, excitement and passion as she experienced in her life, Elouise also had personal experience with true heartbreak. In 1970, her beloved Bill became ill and passed away. While dealing with her own heartbreak, she began her journey of being a single mother, and a career woman at the same time.

With the love and support of her family, she continued raising her 3 beautiful girls with all the love, courage and determination she had to give. In 1977 while talking with her sister-in-law, Boots, she met a friend of Boots', Gene Mayo. They began dating and in 1978 she and Gene were married and she welcomed into her heart 5 more children ( 4 more daughters and a son). She adapted quickly to the role of being a step-mom by simply loving them as her own and extending the same love, grace, compassion, patience, wise council and gentle correction she had given her own.

She beamed with joy at college graduation after college graduation, and wedding after wedding.

Then finally, Elouise became a grandmother. Her role as grandmother was just as important to her as being a mother. At Christmas time she turned into the queen of shopping with Rosie and Inchie (Clarence Carter) her side- kicks because she had to get the perfect gift for her grandchildren, Myisha, Jonathan, and Paul Anthony.

Holidays, birthdays, picnics, Elouise did it all. She embraced and cherished life and all of her relationships with an upbeat and positive perspective. When faced with difficult circumstances she could be quoted for saying, "remember, in every cloud there is a silver lining." The more adversity she faced, the more grace she extended.

And for every season Elouise had a hobby. In the winter she would sit and read or play the piano for Opera performers, in the spring it was gardening, in the summer it was traveling and in the fall she spent hours on the piano In preparation for the up coming holiday season.

She enjoyed playing the piano and organ at Jones Methodist Church where she attended services along with several other churches. She loved to listen to music, her favorite artists were Johnny Mathis, Smokey Robinson, Billy Eckstein, and The Four Tops.

Elouise was beauty and grace in motion and a woman who knew how to live, how to love and how to laugh.

After a long battle with illness, on November 22, 2016 Elouise was called home to glory.

Elouise is survived by her children: Daughters Venita and husband Paul Lue, Tonia Chapple, Rosetta Burroughs, Tanja and husband Ronnie Pitman, Trina and husband Melvin Jones, Tina And husband Brian Mann, Tamara Mayo and her son Antonio Mayo. She will be greatly missed by John Chapple and her grandchildren Myisha Chapple, Jonathan and wife Adiam Chapple, Paul Anthony and wife Jacqueline Brewer along with a host of great grand children, cousins, nephews, and nieces.

The family would like to extend a special Thank You to Clarence Carter (Inchie), Evelyn White and Rod Jackson for your unwavering support, encouragement and faithfulness in caring for Elouise. Your compassion for her touched our hearts and we are grateful for you.