Marjorie Mae Qualls McConnell Burns was born on June 10, 1930 in Sadlersville, TN to Roy Qualls and Ruth Long Qualls. Marjorie graduated from Bell High School in Adams, TN and went to work for Southern Bell Telephone Co in Springfield, TN.
While working for Southern Bell, Marjorie paid for her mother, Ruth, to attend nursing school. Ruth passed the State Board exams in 1956 at age 50 and was elected to the Springfield Association’s L.P.N. of the year. Marjorie was so proud of her mom. Marjorie was a long-time back-up square dancer at the Grand Ole Opry where she befriended such stars as Elvis, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams and Marty Robbins.
Marjorie met Billy McConnell of Toronto, OH. Marjorie and Billy were married April 29, 1955 in the Sadlersville Methodist Church in TN, witnessed by Marjorie’s only sibling James Qualls and his wife Merle Qualls. Marjorie moved to the McConnell family farm where she helped Billy run the dairy until shutting the business in 1960. Marjorie and Billy were members of the Island Creek Presbyterian Church in Island Creek, OH, where she loved singing and traveling with the choir. Marjorie later moved her membership to the First United Methodist Church in Toronto, OH. Billy McConnell passed away May 1998 after a long illness. Marjorie was his primary caregiver.
Marjorie remarried in February 2002 to local Toronto resident David Burns, Sr. David passed away July 2005. Marjorie was his primary caregiver. It was after this time that Marjorie discovered her great-great-grandfather Collen Williamson laid the southeast cornerstone of our nation’s capital. She traveled to Washington D.C. as a special visitor to the capital.
Marjorie is preceded in death by her mother Ruth Qualls, her father Roy Qualls and her brother James Qualls and his first wife Merle Qualls. She is survived by her nephew Randy Qualls, niece Denise Qualls Armstrong and grand-niece Meranda Qualls Lambert.
She is also survived by a variety of cousins, sister-in-law Joyce Kirkland Qualls, Anne Kirkland Cherry and Tommy Kirkland, all of Tennessee. She has several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews on the McConnell side.
Marjorie passed away this 6th day of October, 2022. We will sorely miss her.
Visitation hours for Marjorie will be 3-7 Tuesday, October 11 at the Clarke Funeral Home.
A celebration service of Marjorie’s life will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, October 12 at the funeral home with Pastor Ron Dixon officiating. Interment will follow at the Island Creek Cemetery.