SARA KATHERINE KENNEDY BURNS Sara "Katherine" Kennedy Burns passed away peacefully Sunday, July 30, 2023, at the age of 93. Her visitation will be held at Bodkin Funeral Home from 5:30pm to 7:30pm Wednesday, August 2nd, and her funeral service will be held at Bodkin Funeral Home at 2:00pm on Thursday, August 3rd. Her burial will follow at the Gibson County Memory Gardens. Katherine lived a full and interesting life. She was born Redetha Lee Thrall on June 14, 1930, in Waycross, Georgia. She was the baby of sixteen children. Her mother, Mae Buffington Thrall, died shortly after Redethas birth. The six youngest siblings were placed in an orphanage in Plant City, Florida. At about two years of age, Redetha was adopted by Robert Walker "Bob" Kennedy and his wife, Sara Almedia "Meadie" Reynolds Kennedy. Radethas name was changed to Sara Katherine Kennedy, and she was raised as an only child by her loving adoptive parents. Katherines family moved to Alabama when she was still in grade school. Then to East Tennessee, and back to Alabama, before finally graduating high school in her father Bobs hometown of Anniston Alabama. After high school Katherine moved to Birmingham, where she met the love of her life, George Burns. They met one Easter morning at church service, and began a journey together that spanned over 70 years. Katherine and George were married for 72 years until Georges death in 2019. Katherine and George had two children Katherine Ann (deceased 2017) and Robert. They also had an infant son who passed away shortly after birth in 1963. After her adoption at the age of two, Katherine had no contact with her siblings, until one Christmas Eve, at the age of fifty, having searched her biological family name in the Tampa, Florida area, she made a call to the phone number of Fred Thrall. She briefly told her story of adoption and that she was searching for her siblings, and his first words were "Hello Redetha, you have found your brother". She went on to find and develop relationships with another brother Bill, and two sisters Marie, and Leola. As it turned out Leola was living in Aniston, the city from which Katherine had graduated high school. Katherine cherished the relationships with her formerly lost brothers and sisters for the rest of her life. George and Katherine lived in the Jackson, Medina, and Milan areas for many decades. They owned and operated several businesses, many concurrently, including the old skating rink in Medina during the 1960s and early 70s, an Auction and Realty company for over five decades, and in their last three decades, the Gibson Memory Gardens Cemetery. Katherine worked alongside George in all these endeavors. She loved flowers, dogs, cats, and birds. She was an avid reader and enjoyed crossword puzzles and collecting antique glassware. Katherine is survived by her son Robert (his spouse Belinda), seven grandchildren (and their spouses), and fifteen great-grandchildren ranging from 8 months to 18 years of age. Funeral Service Thursday, August 03, 2023 2:00 PM Bodkin Funeral Home 2000 South 1ST Milan, TN 38358