Trella Valentine Burnett, of Sheridan, Arkansas was born September 18, 1940, at Palmyra, Arkansas, the daughter of the late Troy and Lottie McBride Valentine.

She was a member of Ephesus Missionary Baptist Church at Sheridan. The one job that Trella was not very good at, was sitting still. She was always busy, and that usually involved doing something for someone else. Her career choices were as unique as she was. Countless numbers of kids grew up riding her school bus. Whether they had family at home that cared about them, didn’t matter to her, because those kids became her family, and she loved them all. She also worked on the local ambulance as an EMT. It was important to her that she stood in the gap between, what often was, life and death for a patient. Yet another, in her life, she was a daycare provider, getting paid to do something she would gladly do for free, and that’s love on the little ones. Each one of these career fields has something uniquely in common with the other. She dedicated her life to serving others, and that dedication was genuine and heartfelt.

Now, all the bragging aside, one thing about Trella is that she wasn’t shy. You didn’t have to wonder what she was thinking, and her advice was absolutely free for the taking. She had a unique ability to find joy in even the hardest times of her life. Her laugh and smile were as big as her heart, and you didn’t have to be blood family to be her family.

Ms. Burnett died Wednesday, January 7, 2025, at St. Vincents Hospice in Little Rock, at the age of 85. In addition to her parents, she was proceeded in death by her daughter, Cynthia Creech, and her brothers, Billy Valentine, and Wayne Valentine.

Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, David Burnett, Jr. and Rochelle, of Alexander, Troy Burnett and Cheryl of Sheridan; daughter and son-in-law, Sheila Taylor and Roger of Benton; sisters, Anita Mitchell, Carolyn Berry, Brenda Stuckey; grandchildren, Wesley Burnett (Shea), Ericka Rogers, Lisa McGaughey (Tyler), Austin Taylor (Alesha), Joe Young (Heather), Amber Creech, Amanda Wood (Brent), Zachary Creech (Leigh), Courtney Gilbert; 23 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren. She is also survived by numerous other extended family members, and too many friends to list.

Funeral services will be held at 10 AM, Saturday, January 10, 2026 at Memorial Gardens funeral home Chapel in Sheridan with Bro. Dennis Fugit and Bro. John Bagby officiating. Burial will be in Lost Creek Cemetery at Sheridan. Visitation is Friday, 6–8 p.m.

Memorials may be made to Ephesus Missionary Baptist Church, 2895 Highway 46 S., Sheridan Arkansas, 72150

Just hours before her death, one of the last things she said, clearly and confidently, with peace in her heart, was “Jesus is coming soon“. She was ready for her homegoing and we look forward to seeing her again.