Patricia Burns

Patricia Cash Burns was born on April 9, 1948 and passed into Heaven on September 16, 2022. She was preceded in death by her mother, Lou Anna Palmer Cash, father Hershel Cash, sister Betty L. Cash, and brother Howell Cash. She is survived by her husband James Melvin Burns, son Brian Cecil Cole, her sister Sarah Ruth Cash, brother Randall Cash, sister-in-law Janett Burns Ross, nephew Tony Cash, and numerous other nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was born in Gadsden, AL and moved to Birmingham at age seven. She was educated in Birmingham Public Schools, including Woodlawn High School. She graduated with honors from the University of Montevallo, and the Birmingham School of Law with highest academic honors.

During her employment in her Legal career, she was employed by the Trust Department of SouthTrust Bank, the firm of Costello & Stott, the Bessemer Division of the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, The Legal Aid Society of Birmingham, the Office of the City Attorney of Birmingham (for almost three decades), the Constitutional Law Professor at the Birmingham School of Law, and finally as the Municipal Judge for the City of Fairfield.

Subsequent to her retirement, she spent her waking hours in care of her family, working in her beloved exquisite landscaping of yard and gardens, Bible study and service to her Shades Mountain Baptist Church, to which she had belonged since 1987. During the decades of service at Shades Mountain, she served in adult Sunday school, taught 5th grade girls Sunday school, worked in the nursery and other roles.

During her decades at Shades Mountain, she developed countless deep and loving friendships that fortified her in the tribulations of her long final illness. The family wants to express our deepest appreciation to the doctors and support staff at UAB in their valiant efforts on her behalf.

Everyone who loved her should rejoice in a life well lived.

A Celebration of Life in her honor will take place at the Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home, located at 1591 Gadsden Hwy, Birmingham, AL 35235. The date is Sunday, September 25, 2022, and the times are 12:30 pm for visitation and 2 pm for the funeral service.