Merline Burton

Merline Taylor Waters Burton (Big Mama) died Saturday January 3, 2015 at Conway Regional Medical Center. She was born March 11, 1933 in Kensett, Ark. to Jesse & Princess Lear Cummings Taylor. She retired from the Conway Human Development Center after 19 years of employment as a life skills Trainer. Prior to that she worked as a cook at various restaurants throughout the Conway area. She committed her life to Christ at a young age and became a member of Zion Gove Baptist Church. She moved to Conway and became a member of Zion Temple Church of God In Christ. She supported her church faithfully and served on the Usher Board and Mothers Board. She attended church until her health began to decline. She loved the outdoors and enjoyed planting flowers, raising vegetables in her garden (shared them with friends and relatives), and fishing. Mother was committed to watching "The Young and the Restless" soap opera and NBA games on television. Family and friends knew not to call her if the soaps opera or NBA was on. She is survived by one sister, Maxine Morris of Center Ridge, Ark; four daughters: Tommie Beard, Ruby Waters, Evelyn Waters and Paulette Waters, all of Conway; three sons: Stanley Waters of Flint, Michigan, Larry (Baberly) Waters and David Waters of Conway, Ark; three stepdaughters: Alma (Jerry) Criswell of Springfield, Ark, Ruthie (Elvis) Easterwood of Wooster, Ark., and Christine (Eddie) Williams of College Station, Ark; two stepsons, Gerome (Joyce) Burton of Conway, Fred (Vanessa) Burton of Morrilton, Ark; daughter-in-law, Juanita Burton of Eudora, Ark; eighteen grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and one great great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, Thomas James Waters, Aubrey Burton, brother, David Taylor, daughter, Greta Jean, two grandsons and two stepsons. Visitation will be Friday, January 9, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Griffin Leggett Funeral Home in Conway. Funeral services will be Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Rock of Ages Church in North Little Rock with burial following at Friendship Cemetery in Conway.