Mrs. Bessie Burghardt Paine

BESSIE ALSTON COX BURGHARDT PAINE, aged 93, died peacefully on February 25, 2017 at Integrace Fairhaven Health Center in Sykesville, Maryland. She was also a patient of Gilchrist Hospice Care in her final months. Bess was born October 15, 1923, in Columbus, Mississippi, daughter of late Earl Pritchett Cox and Lucille McCreight Cox. Music played a big part in Bess' life. She was an excellent pianist and enjoyed involvement with the Baltimore and Colorado Symphony Orchestras, Young Audiences / Arts for Living, and other organizations. She was also an avid gardener, bridge player, traveler, and bird enthusiast, and participated in neighborhood garden clubs. Bess graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in mathematics from Duke University in 1944. From there she moved to Baltimore, Maryland to work for Glenn L. Martin Co (now part of Lockheed Martin). It was at Martin where she met Joseph Endler Burghardt and they were married on May 7, 1946. Bess and Joe had two sons, Jim and John, and raised them in Baltimore until 1967 when they moved with Joe's job to Denver, Colorado. Joe preceded Bess in death in 1998. Bess subsequently married Joseph P. Paine who, with his late wife, Anne, were close friends with Bess and Joe Burghardt dating back to the early years of their careers with Martin. Bess and Joe Paine made their primary residence at Fairhaven Retirement Community in Sykesville. Bess established the popular Fairhaven Concert Series that still attracts diverse classical music performances. Joe Paine passed away in 2009. Bess is survived by her sons, Jim (Jackie) and John, grandsons Ted and Geoff, great grandchildren Ben, Ella, and Holden, and Joe Paine's daughters Meredith Leroy and Katie Dixon and their families. A memorial service will be held at Fairhaven Chapel in Sykesville on April 5, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. Another service will be held on April 27, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at Saint John's Episcopal Cathedral in Denver, where Bess and Joe Burghardt were members. Bess will be interred beside Joe Burghardt in All Souls Walk columbarium at Saint John's. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bess’ honor can be made to the Fairhaven Residents' Association or to Saint John Cathedral's Saint Francis Center for homeless women. Online condolences can be sent to www.HaightFuneralHome.com.

Mrs. Bessie Burghardt Paine

October 15, 1923 - February 25, 2017