Gracie Burke Fisher

Gracie Burke Fisher was born April 10, 1948, in Fayetteville North Carolina to the late Lucille Hair McDonald and Edward Burke. She transitioned peacefully on January 25, 2023, after a battle with cancer. She was the oldest of 10 children and is affectionately known as “Pearl”. Her formative years were spent in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania were she attended school and played with siblings and friends on 16th and Market Street. Her family returned to North Carolina where she attended the Cumberland County public schools and graduated from Armstrong High. Growing up post World War II and during the Vietnam era, Gracie started her first job at Kingspoint Manufacturing sewing parachutes for the Army and safety jackets for NASA. Gracie lived an adventurous life. She enjoyed traveling, and was often found playing in the snow in Blue Ridge Mountains and spending time at Myrtle Beach and the Gulf Shores. She had high standards of excellence and was a meticulous interior designer. In 1978, she relocated to Atlanta, Georgia and started her Interior Design Business (Gracie’s Interior Design) during the construction boom in Atlanta. Gracie poured everything into her children and served as President of the Avondale High School Band Booster Club for several years. She spent countless weekends attending band competitions and T-ball practice among her 3 children. She loved theater and encouraged her children to participate in stage plays and performances, where she would have a front row seat, along with a host of neighbors and best friends. She loved her family deeply and would often open her home to family members, friends, and their children if they were in need. Her favorite saying was, “If I can just help one person along the way – then my living will not be in vain.” Gracie was young at heart, loved people and was extremely candid and humorous. She did not meet a stranger, and many referred to her as “mother”. She loved spending time with the late “Snuggles”, her companion and therapy dog. In October of 2021, she was elevated to the position of "Church Mother" at the RENEW Church of GA, where she established and led the "Life Saver Outreach Program" that provided toiletries and snacks to the homeless. Gracie was loved by many and will be greatly missed. She is predeceased by her first husband, Robert Fisher and is survived by Kenneth Dawkins (husband); Three children: Rosalind Tucker (Tony), Rosamund Miller (Christopher) and Raymond Fisher. She is survived by her stepfather Robert McDonald and lovingly remembered by seven siblings: Thomas Burke (Edna), Carolyn Burke, William Burke, Robert Burke, Dorothy Burke, Cynthia Chandler (Brian), Evelyn Ward (Maurice) and is predeceased by twin siblings Sandra and Saunders Burke. She is survived by 8 grandchildren: Dominique Fisher (Damara), Darrell Benton, Devon Arnold (Lori), Destany Arnold, DaQuan Jones, Dayonna Evans, LaShae Ross, Miya Miller, 10 great grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews whom she adored. Services will be held at Cheatham Hill Memorial Park 1861 Dallas Highway, Marietta, Ga 30064 on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, at 10 AM.