Stanley Burley was born in La Mott, educated in the Cheltenham Township School System and eventually moved to Willingboro, NJ. He was my mother's cousin. His father and my mother's mother were brother and sister.
At this funeral, one of his friends touched upon how as a child Cousin Stanley stated that he wanted to be funeral director when he became an adult. He fulfilled his life's dream and worked for several years in his profession. My best guess is that he was influenced by his father who was one of the founders of Fairview Cemetery, a black-owned and operated organization located in Upper Dublin, Montgomery County.
I was moved my the fact that he knew what he wanted as a child and his steps were directed down that path. He worked at other places and he attended Mercer Community College and Temple University to achieve his goal.
He was a devoted father, uncle and brother. My primary recollection of him was when there was a historical program about La Mott, he and his wife would come over from New Jersey to the La Mott Community Center and I was impressed by that. It's like he never forgot where he came from and the historical significance of the community.
He was a graduate of Cheltenham High School (Go Panthers!) and he served in the Air Force shortly after graduating from CHS.
During the repast, I sat with a couple of women who knew Cousin Stanley from Willingboro. They had me in stitches because both Cousin Stanley and his wife got on the "Net." They were on Facebook and had email accounts as well. It's great to hear when people in the 70's and 80's are busy searching the web. Apparently there were two personal computers in the home with each of the two having his/her own access.
I am fortunate to be part of a family that moves with the times.
