Tommie was born on December 24,1928 to Sidney & Kate Smith. She was the second of five children. She grew up in the McNeill community and graduated from McNeill High School, where she was a member of the girls basketball and softball teams. Later in life, she met and married John Mark Burge, Jr. of Poplarville, MS. They raised their 4 children in the Fords Creek Community.
Tommie had a long career with Movie Star, starting on the sewing floor and working her way into management. She was an excellent homemaker and cook, and often prepared holiday meals for the entire Movie Star staff. After retiring from Movie Star, Tommie owned and operated Tommie’s Fabrics in downtown Poplarville for a number of years before retiring a second time. After retirement she became involved with the local AARP and Triad Chapters where she became a member of the Mississippi Leadership Council on Aging. Over the years she served her community in many capacities, as Cub Scout Leader, youth director at several local churches, played piano and led youth choir and was the pianist for a local Southern Gospel Quartet, The Praise Singers. Tommie was also involved with the Blueberry Jubilee in working to institute the Blueberry Pageant for local girls in Pearl River County. She was a member of the Poplarville Woman’s Club and of First Baptist Church in Poplarville. Also, after retiring, Tommie enjoyed shopping with her daughter, gardening, cooking, sewing, playing piano, serving others and spending time with her family and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Sidney & Kate Smith. Her husband, John Mark Burge Jr. Son, Ken Burge. Brothers, Sid Juan Smith and Guy Nell Smith. Sisters, Greta Faye Dearman and Sarah Jane Kennedy. And great grandson, Jackson Sheffield.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Linda & Ronnie Smith of Poplarville. Randy (Darlene) Burge of Poplarville and Ricky (Shanda) Burge of Hutto, TX. Grandchildren, Todd (Raquel) Smith of Poplarville and Tiffany Smith of Hattiesburg, MS. Brooke (Beau) Wiltshire, Blaire (Jonathan) Smith and Jon Marc Burge, all of Poplarville. Landon Burge, Logan Burge, Layton Burge and Leah Burge of Round Rock, TX. Tyler Burge, Madison Burge, Autumn Sheffield, Heather (Joshua) Sewell, Megan (Marc) Parks, and Katie (Joey) Guajardo, all of Texas. Great Grandchildren, Christian Smith, Charlotte Wiltshire, Jackson Wiltshire, Benjamin Wiltshire, Zoe Smith, Kinley Smith, Courtney Smith, Trey Sheffield, Nolan Sheffield, Hailey Sewell, Ava Sewell, Jacob Sewell, Chloe Woodard, Ryan Parks, Millie Parks, Chance Parker, Sophie Guajardo, Bree Guajardo and Lily Morris. She is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews that she loved dearly.
Funeral Services, officiated by Rev. Ken Rhodes, will be held Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at White Funeral Home beginning at 12:00 pm. Friends are invited to join the family for visitation from 10:00 am until the service begins. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Poplarville.
