GREENSBORO - Juliet Halliburton Burnett Davis, widow of Walter Burke Davis, Jr., died at the age of 97 on March 10, 2011, at WellSpring Retirement Community.

Mrs. Davis was born on February 5, 1914, in Brownsville, Tennessee, to Minnie McLeskey and John Holloway Halliburton. She grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, where her family moved in 1918. She graduated from The Hutchison School and was active in dramatics with the Memphis Little Theatre. She was graduated from Sweet Briar College in 1935 cum laude and with High Honors in English and was involved with the Alumnae Association for 45 years, holding numerous offices including President. She was chosen for the Outstanding Alumna Award in 1970. She served on the College's Board of Overseers and, later, its Board of Directors for a total of 17 years until 1982.

For two years after graduation Mrs. Davis worked as a fashion model in Miami, FL, and New York City. In 1937 she moved to Greensboro, upon her marriage to Greensboro resident Oscar Weaver Burnett. She was a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church which she joined upon moving to Greensboro and held several positions in the Episcopal Women's organizations, chiefly as Education Chairmen of her various chapters. She sang in the Holy Trinity Choir for many years.

Mrs. Davis was very active in volunteer work in Greensboro, serving on numerous different organization boards. She was elected President of the Civilian Defense Volunteer Organization during the Second World War and held several positions in the Greensboro Junior League, including President. She was selected for the silver cup of the Junior League Roll of Honor in 1950. She was the organizing Chairman of the Red Cross Gray Ladies at Wesley Long Hospital. She was one of the three founders of the Greensboro Debutante Club and served as President. She was on the organization committee of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra and the Greensboro Opera Association. She was a member since 1936 of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America and was an Honorary Member of the North Carolina Unit of the Herb Society of America. She was a member of the Wednesday Lecture Club and several bridge clubs and a former member of the Greensboro Garden Club, the Greensboro Country Club, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Assembly Dance Club and also the Surf Club and Carolina Yacht Club of Wrightsville Beach, NC, where the Burnetts had a house for many years. When her husband acquired the land where the Army installation was placed during World War II, he built Summit Shopping Center and Mrs. Burnett opened a shop for maternity and children's wear which operated for ten years until it was bought by Ellis Stone Department Stores (Thalhimers).

Mr. Burnett died in 1970 and in 1982 Mrs. Burnett was married to Burke Davis of Williamsburg, VA, where he was writer-in-residence for the Williamsburg Foundation. They built a house on a mountain top in Patrick County, VA, and divided their time between it and Greensboro where Burke grew up and returned while he was on the staff of the Greensboro paper. Mrs. Davis had many activities, enjoying gardening, sailing, hiking, travel, needlework, reading, bridge, and especially her family and friends.

Mrs. Davis was pre-deceased by both her husbands, by her brother, John H. Halliburton of Miami, FL, and Kerrville, TX, and by nephews, David R. Halliburton and John H. Halliburton, Jr. She is survived by her daughter, Miranda B. Miles of West Jefferson, NC, her son Timothy B. Burnett and his wife, Jane, of Greensboro, grandchildren Brian H. Miles and wife, Clara, of Niceville, FL, Juliet Halliburton Miles Bouchard and her husband, Marcian, of Durham, Jane Allison Burnett Smith and her husband, Brenton, of New York, NY, Catherine Halliburton Burnett of Chapel Hill, and Elizabeth Brooks Burnett Taylor and husband, Ryan, of New York, NY; great grandchildren Brayton Davis Miles, Camille Alden Miles, Brenton Lohr Smith, Jr. , Timothy Burnett Smith, Wesley Brooks Taylor, and Holt McCoy Bouchard.

Greensboro News & Record (NC) - Sunday, March 13, 2011