Callie Burke
Callie M. Burke, a beacon of love and selflessness, was called home to her Lord and Savior on September 21, 2025, at the age of 77, in San Diego, California. Born on May 17, 1948, in Enid, Mississippi, Callie’s life was a testament to the enduring spirit of faith and the joy of service to others. She was a cherished daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose legacy of compassion and faithfulness will forever be etched in the hearts of those she touched.
Callie was the embodiment of a life well-lived, guided by her unwavering Christian faith. She found her calling in caring for others, a mission she pursued with unparalleled dedication for over 50 years as a Registered Nurse. Her remarkable career included 20 years of service with the U.S. Navy Reserve, where she retired honorably, and another two decades each at the V.A. Hospital and Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Callie’s commitment to healing and comforting the sick was more than a profession—it was her ministry, her way of walking in the footsteps of the Great Healer.
As a graduate of Kaiser University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Callie was not only a skilled professional but also a nurturing presence to all. She was preceded in death by her beloved father Porter Madkins, her mother Effie Lacey, and her sister Gloria Dean Smith. Her love and memories will be cherished by her remaining sisters, Verda Emory and Joyce Suggs, both of Memphis, Tennessee. Callie’s legacy continues through her four children: Darrell Madkins of Memphis, TN; Tonya and George Bailey of Murrieta, CA; Allisa and Torian Walker of Omaha, NE; and Cheryl Calvin of Baltimore, MD. Her twelve grandchildren and six great-grandchildren were the light of her life, and she showered them with the kind of love that leaves an indelible mark on a soul.
In her personal life, Callie found joy in simple pleasures: reading her Bible, attending church services, fishing, and visiting amusement parks. But nothing compared to the time she spent with her family, whom she adored beyond measure. Her life was a living example of the scripture, “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
Callie’s character was marked by her loving nature and her selfless devotion to others. She walked through life with the grace of someone who truly understood the power of faith. As she often reminded her loved ones, “Faith is not about everything turning out okay; faith is about being okay no matter how things turn out.” This profound understanding of faith’s role in life’s trials and tribulations was a source of inspiration and comfort to many.
To have known Callie was to have witnessed a life where every action was infused with meaning and every interaction was an opportunity to uplift. She was a woman who, even in her passing, urges us to look beyond our grief and to celebrate the gift of each day. Let us honor her memory by living as she did—with love, with generosity, and with the courage to face each day with a faith-filled heart.
As we bid farewell to Callie M. Burke, we do so with the assurance that her spirit lives on in the countless lives she touched. We rejoice in the knowledge that she rests now in the eternal peace of Christ, and we hold fast to the love and wisdom she imparted. May we all aspire to reflect even a fraction of the light she brought into this world.