Mother Zetta Maxine Burkhalter, after "Fourscore and One Years", moved into the "Upper Room" on Saturday evening, December 5, 2015 from Eufaula, Oklahoma.

Zetta Maxine McGriff-Burkhalter was born March 6, 1934 in Hoffman, Oklahoma to Eula Mae McIntosh and Benjamin Franklin McGriff she was raised in the several communities in the area including, Hoffman, Pierce, McAlester, Checotah and Muskogee, Oklahoma graduating from Rentiesville High School and meeting and marrying Alton Burkhalter and to that union twelve children were born.

She was the oldest of four sisters she learned at an early age that hard work and responsibility would provide for her the entire span of her life. Zetta was well known for her cooking and she enjoyed providing large Sunday dinners for her family which would be highlighted by yeast rolls made the night before and set aside to rise for baking.

Zetta saw a need to re-enter the workforce after she had raised a large portion of her twelve children, she returned to school and attended Connors State College and studied Criminal Justice and earned a living outside the home as a cook for Douglas School of Checotah, and eventual site manger for Checotah Public Schools, Food Service Manager for McAlester State Penitentiary and Komar Manufacturing in McAlester.

Zetta spent her life providing for others and seldom considering her own needs she would rise early to prepare breakfast as her family was growing and spent her day as a homemaker and assisting her husband and family on the farm. Zetta would nurture her children and many of their friends and cousins throughout her life she was always ready to set another plate make a little space for anyone in need. She had a mothering spirit and sought to help everyone she could and give her last to support her children in whatever endeavor they undertook. Zetta always taught her children to be humble but not second class she would tell them on many occasions that no one was better than them and if they would work hard and put forth the effort God would provide the opportunity to succeed. The life that she lived before us was a life of serving others and hoping that she could touch a life in a way to make it better,

After retiring Zetta moved back to Checotah and continued to nurture her family now numbering over a hundred and growing; providing a landing pad for those who had fallen and a hand to those who had stumbled her door and kitchen always open to anyone who came by. She was never without encouragement and correction you would receive whatever was needed at that time. One fine quality she had was she could see the potential in people and would encourage them to achieve although family was first someone in need was never turned away.

Zetta held several offices in numerous civic and religious organization such as PTA, Band Parents, Scout Troops, Vacation Bible School, Gardenia Art Club, Mission, Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Superintendant, AARP, NAACP to name a few.

Zetta had received numerous awards and one prestigious reward that exemplified who she was as a person in 2006 she was awarded The President's Volunteer Service Award presented to her from George W. Bush then president of the United States of America.

Zetta was proceed in death by her parents, one sister Wanda B, Barnes and one brother Johnny McGriff, one son Alton Burkhalter Jr. and daughter Bostine Burkhalter-Whitfield, one still born child.

Zetta has left to mourn her passing two sisters Mary and (Albert) Greenleaf, Wanda Jean Phifer of Oklahoma City, ten children Brenda and (Troy Pierce Sr.) of Sperry Oklahoma, Ronald Burkhalter Sr. of Nuevo, CA. , James H. Burkhalter and (Ella) of Tulsa, OK. , John Burkhalter of Porter, TX. , Doyle Sr. and (Lois) Burkhalter of Wagoner, OK. , son-in-law Johnny Whitfield, Gloria Rea Burkhalter of Checotah, Marcus and (Eletha) Burkhalter of Checotah, OK. Gwen and (Rev. Sanford) Nero, Cartez Burkhalter of Houston TX. , Trenton Sr. (Rolonda) Burkhalter, and a sibling to her children Dr. Rebecca Joyce, (Michael) Wates of Kansas City, MO. forty grandchildren and sixty-eight great-grandchildren and several great-great grandchildren and a host of friends and family members.

The Celebratory Tribute to Mother Burkhalter will commence on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at 1:00 P.M. in the First Baptist Church of Checotah. Reverend Sanford Nero will officiate and Reverend Marcus Burkhalter will give the Eulogy.

Burial will follow in the Hawkins Cemetery at Hoffman, Oklahoma.

You may visit Mother Burkhalter, as she slumbers in sweet repose at the funeral home on Monday from 10:00 A.M. until 7:00 P.M.