Claudia E. Burnam

February 10, 1957 - January 16, 2016

Claudia Elizabeth Burnam, 58, of Louisville, and a native of Bowling Green, died Jan. 16, 2016, at Hospice House in Bowling Green. She was a graduate of Bowling Green High School and a graduate of Kentucky School of Mortuary Science (Mid-America College of Funeral Service) and attended Western Kentucky University. Claudia worked as a surgery scheduler at Norton Audubon Hospital, Drs. Lambert, Klamer & Gupta, PSC, and Thoracic and Vascular Associates, where she became a skilled problem solver with the ability to meet the patients' needs with each of her jobs. She was a Kentucky licensed funeral director/embalmer since 1977, and an owner of Burnam & Son Mortuary Inc., where she worked with her father Claude E. Burnam Jr. and siblings for over 38 years. She was a member of the Kentucky Funeral Directors Association and National Funeral Directors Association. Claudia joined New Bethel Baptist Church at an early age and was a member of Burnett Avenue Baptist Church in Louisville. Claudia was born in Richmond, Ind., to the late Claude E. Burnam Jr. and Norma Jean Smith-Burnam. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Isabell Williams, Claude E. Burnam Sr., Saxton Smith, Georgia Mae Jones-Smith, George W. Jones, Katherine Austin, Carrie Morrow, James Morrow, Lena and Arthur Burnam; aunts and uncles, Wilhelmina Butts, Lucille Jones, William E. Jones, Luther Jones, Mammie Thacker and Charles C. Whitney; and cousins Linda Proctor and Troy T. Whitney. Claudia is survived by her son, Bryeon C. (Michelle) Burnam of Cincinnati; grandchildren Jordan C. Burnam, Jaiden L. Burnam and Justice B. Burnam of Cincinnati; siblings Carmen C. Burnam, Cedric C. (Judy) Burnam and Kelly Burnam-Lee (Dorian) of Bowling Green; special friend Henry E. "Chris" Smith III of Danbury, Conn.; aunts and uncles, Georgianna (Robert) Hendrix, Donald Jones Smith, all of Stockbridge, Ga., and Peggy Whitney of Bowling Green; great-aunt Lula Mae Smith of Bowling Green; and host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, many relatives, friends and church family. Service is at noon Friday at State Street Baptist Church, 340 State St., Bowling Green, with interment in Mount Moriah Cemetery, Bowling Green. The family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Burnam & Son Mortuary, 201 Center St., Bowling Green. Online condolences may be made to the family at burnamandsonmortuary.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Hope Lodge, 132 W. 32nd St., New York, NY 10001.