Nola Mae Burba: 1936-2012

- My Sweet Grandma from Jonathan Haggard 

This video was made to honor the life of my dear Grandma, Nola Mae Burba.

Nola Mae Norwood Burba was born on a farm about seven miles southeast of Cleveland, Oklahoma, the only child of Earl Leonard and Ida Mae (Sneed) Norwood. All four of her grandparents lived nearby and were a very important part of her wonderful childhood. She attended a one-room country school named Grandview for seven years.

Nola's Uncle was a Sunday School teacher and first introduced Nola to the man, C.L. Burba, she was to spend her life with at a Sunday School wiener roast on the Norwood Farm. The couple eventually began dating when they were attending Cleveland High School. After high school graduation with the class of 1954, Nola accepted employment as a secretary for Johnson Oil Company, while C.L. attended Oklahoma A&M. The couple were married at the First Baptist Church in Cleveland on June 20, 1954. C.L. and Nola had two daughters, Karen Lynn and Amanda Mae.

Church was always an important part of Nola's family as a child. Nola accepted Jesus Christ as her Personal Savior and was saved at the age of twenty-one at a tent revival where a mission church was being established in Cleveland. After moving to Tulsa in 1957, Nola and C.L joined Eastwood Baptist Church in 1958. They began teaching Sunday School immediately, and continued their involvement with the children's Sunday School at Eastwood for forty-three wonderful years.

After C.L retired from American Airlines in 1996, the couple spent many wonderful times together traveling. A trip to Disneyland in California to celebrate birthdays was the usual tradition for many years, which later included grandchildren. They visited Disneyland a total of twenty-three times, and were offered jobs as greeters in 2005, but decided that they were "too senior" to try it.

On one special trip in 2003, they went to Pasadena and helped with the construction of a float for the New Year's Rose Parade with six family members working side by side for ten straight hours. They assisted in the positioning of thousands of yellow roses in water vials for the float. After all this strenuous and enjoyable work, they spent the next three hours celebrating New Year's Eve at Disneyland.

Nola's hobbies include collecting souvenir spoons (approximately 361) and working with her photo albums. Her favorite pastime however, was spending time with her family and friends and reflecting upon the Goodness of God's Love and Amazing Grace. She lived her life as a wonderful example of a Christian lady, and always reminded those around her of her favorite scripture, Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever".

Nola peacefully went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Thursday, December 20, 2012 at the Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa at the age of seventy-six.

She is survived by her husband of fifty-eight years, C.L. Burba of the home, two daughters and their husbands; Amy and Clayton Haggard of Bixby, OK and Karen and Dennis Smith of Sherwood, AR. Three granddaughters; Elizabeth Bullington, Rachel Smith, and Jessica Haggard. One grandson; Jonathan Haggard. Grandson-in-law; Jason Bullington. Great grandson; Fletcher Bullington. Numerous other relatives and friends including her church family at Eastwood Baptist.

I love you Grandma, and will miss you very much!