Mrs. Mary Helen Burks age 84 of the Sand Hill-Hulett Community, passed away Monday, January 27, 2014 in a local hospital. She was born February 15, 1929 in Toledo, Ohio to the late J.D. Thornton and Lucille Wesley Thornton. Mrs. Burks retired from Bankhead Cleaners after more than 40 years of service. She was a long time faithful member of the Mars Hill Baptist Church. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Bryant Levon Burks Sr. who passed away in 1990 and a sister Dorothy Lucille Bacon. Survivors include her children Elaine Smith and her husband Charles of Harrison, Ga., Bryant Burks Jr. and his wife Carole of Jackson, Ga., Charles Burks and his wife Kathy of Carrollton, Ga., Patty Beal and her husband Billy of Anniston, Al., Bobby Burks and his wife Angie of Carrollton, Ga., and Jamey Burks and his wife Annette of Winston, Ga.; brothers Wesley Thornton of Sylvester and Norman Thornton of Georgetown, Tx.; also surviving are fourteen grandchildren and twenty one great grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, February 2, 2014 at 2:00PM from Mars Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Terry Wofford and Rev. Larry Scott officiating. Mrs. Burks grandsons Keith Burks, Bryan Carden, Thomas Burks, Nick Burks, Ian Burks, Jackie Ray Veitch and Jeff Burks will serve as pallbearers. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday evening from 4:00 till 8:00PM.