Lettie Belle Walker was the first of thirteen children born to John B. (1860-1947) and Sarah Ellen (Mays) Walker (1859-1940) on Apr 22, 1879 at Boyd's Creek in rural Sevier Co., Tennessee. Of the 13 children borne by (Sarah) Ellen during her life, only eight lived to see the turn of the century, and, for many of those who did live, life was difficult at best. In 1880, Lettie was 13 yrs. old and still in school, but her father and sisters Lilly and Maggie were all day laborers in the Knoxville area. Lettie married Claiborne Barbur Burkhart on May 12th, 1895 and they settled in Knox County, Tennessee, to support themselves by farming. Eight children were born to Clairborne and Lettie during her life. They named their 1st child, born in March, 1896, Bruce McDonald. [Bruce died Nov 5, 1918 while in the Army; he was a Private in the 3d Signal Corps and only 22 yrs. old when he died, during World War 1. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.] Their 2nd child, also a son, was born in Aug 1897 and named Carce. [Unable to locate any further record of him after 1900. He died in California.] Their 3rd child and son, born on Feb 3rd, 1899, was named Homer G. [He died Sep 12, 1901 and was buried at Asbury Cemetery in Knoxville, Tennessee.] Their 4th child and son was born on Aug 11th, 1900. They named him Dempster E. [He married Emma Elizabeth Buffalo, b. 1901, also of Tenn. They had children and lived their married lives in Louisville, Kentucky. He died, suddenly, in 1943, and was buried at Asbury Cemetery. Emma never remarried, and, when she passed, was also buried at Asbury Cemetery.] Their 5th child was a daughter, born Feb 1903, whom they named Alice Blanche. [She married Charles Edgar Kosier (1894-1972). They would have three sons and live in Knoxville, Tennessee. Alice died in 1989. I have not found where she is buried, yet.]. Their 6th child was another son, born in early 1906. They named this child Fred L. [He married Ruth B. and lived until 1951. He and his wife are buried at Asbury Cemetery.] Lettie and Barb's 7th child was another son, born in 1907. He was named Theodore. [He married Agnes and they lived out their lives in Louisville, Jefferson Co., Kentucky. He died in 1984. I have not found where he is buried, yet.]. Their 8th and last child was another daughter, born on Oct 6, 1913. They named her Ellen. [Ellen died Nov 9, 1917 and was buried at Asbury Cemetery in Knoxville, Tennessee.]
Claiborne was a farmer all of his adult life. He was known as "Barb" due to his middle name of Barbur. In 1927, at the age of 56, he was kicked by a mule, sustaining serious injuries. He was admitted to the Riverside - Fort Sanders Hospital, but died on Friday, Nov 25th, 1927 in the hospital. "Mr. Burkhart's funeral services were held at 10 o'clock this afternoon [sic] of Nov 27th 1927 at the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church, with Rev. J. A. Cassidy officiating. Mr.Burkhart was then buried at Asbury Cemetery." Lettie was now a widow and she returned to her parental home where her youngest sister, Thelma still lived. Thelma was employed as a stenographer and bookkeeper during this time, but later married the widower Louis Homer McLain until his death in 1943. Lettie cared for her parents until they died. Her mother passed away just before Christmas, on Dec 22, 1943, and was buried at Asbury Cemetery. Her father passed away on Dec 10, 1947, and was buried near his dear wife at Asbury Cemetery, Knoxville. Lettie lived a long life, living until the age of 82 yrs. of age. Coincidentally, she also died in the month of December, on Dec 3rd, 1961. She was buried near her loving husband who she joined in Heaven, as well as all of her children who had gone before her, Bruce, little Homer, Dempster, and dear little Ellen, whom she had all loved and missed so very much when they had died much too soon, before her.

As I write this, all of Barb and Lettie's children have now passed from this life and are together with their loved ones in Heaven where there is no illness or pain, where death has no meaning as they are together in Eternity, I firmly believe.