In Memory of Carrie Ann Burd

1948-1991

Carrie Ann Burd, born November 9th, 1948, was the daughter of J. Milton and Eleanor (Jones) Burd. Carrie Ann was a lifelong resident of Tewksbury Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. She resided with her parents and brother John, on the Hickory Grove Farm located on Farmersville Rd. Her Dad was a dairy and crop farmer.

Carrie Ann was a happy healthy baby, but at the age of 9 months, she suffered a stroke caused by a high fever of 105. After test results, she was diagnosed by her doctors as having spinal meningitis. The doctors were not sure if she could make it or not and it was a very difficult time for all. But Carrie Ann was a very courageous little girl, and a fighter, never the one to give up, by the time of her first birthday she was back in her walker and rolling all over the house.

Carrie Ann started school when she was 6 years old, attending Tewksbury Township School on Sawmill Rd, and loved every min. of it. She enjoyed going to school and loved her teachers, but because of her health problems, was unable to stay in school.

Carrie Ann was then tutored at home by Mr. Leroy Lance, Sr. who tought Carrie Ann until she graduated from North regional High School in 1969. After Carrie Ann's lessons there was always time for Mr. Lance and Carrie Ann's Music. Together they would sing some of those Oldies songs, what fun they had together!!! Before he would leave for the day, Carrie Ann would put Mr. lances hat on his head, as that had become a tradition with them. After Mr. Lance died in 1969, Helen - Roy's wife gave Carrie Ann his hat. It's still there in the closet. Those years were very special to Carrie Ann and Mr. Roy Lance. They were years of memories for Carrie Ann and she cherished them, and carried a love so very special for her wonderful teacher Mr. Lance. Our Burd family will always be grateful for the years they spent together.

Music was always a big part of Carrie Ann's life. She could dance and sing, and when she was only 3 years old she played songs on a xylophone. Later she played the paino, and learned to play the trumpet. She had watched and listened to her Grand-daddy Jones play on his trumpet some of the World War I songs and it wasn't long before she picked up the trumpet and played it for all of us! We all stood there in suprise at all of her musical talents.

She loved the "Burd Boys" and their traditional country music. They held their practice nights at our farm house, and Carrie Ann would sing her favorite song with them, "Your Cheatin' Heart"

Carrie Ann was always surrounded by all of her cousins, they loved coming up to the farm in the summer time and all holidays. They were all special to Carrie Ann, and she loved them all. Her cousin, Sally and her were really close, they had made plans at a very early age to be one anothers "Maid of Honor" when they grew up.  When Sally Waltz married August 18th, 1974, at the Hickory Grove, Carrie Anns dream came true and she was indeed the "Maid of Honor".

As young as Carrie Ann was, she was always concerned about her family's health and she had heard about Cancer , as some of our family had passed away from that Deadly Disease. Her two young cousins, Butchie and Donnie, used to walk two miles to Califon just to buy cigarettes, but if Carrie Ann cought them smoking she would say "Hand over those pack of cigarettes" and then she would throw the cigretts on the ground and stomp on them, and tell them "Cigarettes cause Cancer!"

I am sure if Carrie Ann were still here today she would be warning those she loved and many of her friends about the dangers of Cancer. Yes, breast Cancer took the life of Carrie Ann. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1990 at the age of 41, and passed away in her home on Farmersville Rd on February 20th, 1991. 

So it is with honor and love that we hold the "Carrie Ann Memorial Concert" with all proceeds going to the Hunterdon County Medical Cancer Center in Flemington, New Jersey at the Hickory grove Farm.