Willow Mae Hicks Burton

March 21, 1938 - January 13, 2022

Willow Mae Burton, 83, passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of January 13, 2022. She retired from Bank of America (NationsBank) in 1997 after 17 years of service. Willow Mae was born on March 21, 1938 to Raleigh Edward Hicks and Connie Elizabeth Celeste Ann Durham in Oak Ridge, NC. She enjoyed working in the tobacco fields with her “daddy” and running around the Benbow House. She even saw Elvis Presley once by the post office driving a pink Cadillac. Willow Mae graduated from Summerfield High School in 1956, where she formed lasting friendships with her classmates and enjoyed attending annual high school reunions. An avid reader and storyteller, Willow Mae could talk for hours about her many years here on earth. Weaving valuable life-lessons through her experiences of childhood, family, love and loss, she created vivid accounts for her listeners. She loved the N.C. mountains, where she would feed the deer, as well as Carolina Beach, N.C., where she would watch the sunrise each morning. Willow Mae was a Tarheel born and bred. To cherish her memory, Willow Mae leaves behind three children, son Larry Burton, Jr. (Annette), daughters Kathy Burton (Brad) and Traci Cypher; 7 grandchildren, Crystal, Kelly (Angelo), Jessica (Blaine), Taylor (Amanda), Dillon, Haley (Bryce) and Cali; 5 great-grandchildren, Christopher, Serenity, Vanessa, Natalia and Ayla, as well as 2 siblings sister Pam Johnson (John) and brother, Larry Hicks (Diana) , nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband Larry Burton, Sr. of 42 years, brother Raleigh Edward Hicks, Jr. (Bubby), and sisters Betty Orth and Martha Cox. DUE TO THE SNOW AND ICE THE VISITATION HAS BEEN POSTPONED. A visitation/celebration of life will be held SUNDAY, January 30, 2022, 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. at Forbis and Dick Guilford Chapel, 5926 W Friendly Ave, Greensboro, NC 27410. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to AuthoraCare Collective (formerly Hospice of Greensboro).