Mary Louise Lever

Mary Louise Burk Lever of Rome, Georgia, passed away Thursday, September 25, 2025, at Magnolia Place at the Spires in Rome, Georgia.

Mary was born May 13, 1936, in Rome, GA.  She was the daughter of the late Bessie Brown Burk and William Franklin Burk, Sr.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Joseph Lever of Sandersville, GA.  She graduated from Pepperell High school and Georgia College in Milledgeville.  Mary Louise taught Home Economics for several years and became the Home Economist Agent for the University of GA in Washington County.  She and her husband traveled around the world.  After the death of her husband, she moved back to Rome to live with her parents.  She continued her travels with friends, as well with her sister, Frances, and Phil.  She took many cruises and land trips to visit over a hundred countries. Mary Louise won many local and national cooking contests. When she won the National Pie Contest, she met Julia Child, who was one of the judges. Mary Louise was featured on the front of Taste of Home magazine for one of her recipes. She met Willard Scott when she won Bays English Muffin recipe contest.  Mary Louise served as the chairman of Georgia Highlands College Foundation for several years.

Survivors include Frances Herron (Phil), William Burk, Cecil Burk (Lyndall) and several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

There will be a Celebration of Life Service at Burk Farms, 377 Burk Farm Rd, Rome, GA 30165 on Sunday, October 12, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

The family request that memorials be made to the Georgia Highlands Nursing College.

Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, North Chapel, is honored to serve the family of Mary Louise Burk Lever.

This is a courtesy announcement by May and Smith Funeral Directors.