Barbara Burke Obituary

Barbara Burke

Barbara Ann Burke, 67, of Brunswick and Waverly, died Dec. 19, 2025, at Baptist Medical Center, in Jacksonville, after having suffered a stroke two weeks earlier.

From a young child, until the day she died, Barbara was first and always a Christian, and she enjoyed the absolute knowledge that one day she would go to Heaven.

Barbara graduated from Suitland High School in the Greater Washington, D.C., area. After high school, she attended Hagerstown Business College and graduated in 1979.

She had worked for a number of years in early-elementary special education, while living in Stuart, Florida. While living in Waycross, and later in Brunswick, she worked for American Home Patient. Barbara also worked several years as patient advocate St. Simons by the Sea hospital, on St. Simons Island. But she was probably most passionate about the several years when she served as the administrator at First Baptist Church, St. Simons.

During all of her professional life, she made lifelong friends with people she worked with. She was a treasured employee wherever she worked.

Barbara had survived the death of both of her parents, William and Kitty Sue Burke of Tavares, Florida; as well as one brother, Steve Burke of District Heights, Maryland.

She is survived by her son, Rob Leap, his wife, Lisa Altman-Leap and their son, Chase, of Ponte Vedra, Florida, one sister, Judi Leap and her husband, Pete of New Jersey; two brothers, Mike Burke and Bobby Burke and his wife Petrona, of Maryland; and several nieces and nephews.

She is also survived by her life partner of 20 years, Kester Moore and his son, Clayton; and her beloved guinea pig, Shadow.

In accordance with her wishes, her body was cremated and her ashes will be broadcast off Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island, with the remaining cremains buried in Ben James Church Cemetery, near Blackshear.

Memorial services will be held in both places at a later date. Contact [email protected] for details. Godspeed, Barbara Burke.

Family-placed obituary

The Brunswick News, January 7, 2026