Albertha Buras

Albertha Sowell Buras, 95, passed away into the arms of Jesus her Lord and Savior on August 8,2024 after a long illness of Dementia and Alzheimer’s. She lived and passed away at home with her loving daughter and son-in-law, Florence and Randy Porter in Richland, MS. She was born August 15, 1928, in Leakesville, MS to James Nathaniel and Bertha Mahala Byrd Sowell. 

Graduated from Leakesville High School in 1946. After graduation, she was employed as the Secretary at the Leakesville School from 1947 to 1950. She moved to Mobile, AL in 1950 where she met and married Louis Buras Jr on March 8, 1953, and they were together for 42 years, until his death March 26,1995. 

During her lifetime, she was a wonderful loving wife, mother, home maker, faithful Christan, loved the Lord Jesus and served him in many ways. Received honors for working in VBS for 50 years, and helped her husband, Louis Buras to build Baptist churches in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. She started church libraries, worked as Sunday School secretary, sang in the choir, and worked in church nurseries caring for young children and teaching them about the Lord. She brought several children into her home to care for them. Many times, she would help church military and young families when needed, to this day they call her “Granny”. Through the years she stayed in contact with many of her family and friends, as many lovingly called her “Granny” or “Aunt Ber”. 

Her hobbies included: quilting, crafts, embroidery and reading religious books and the Greene County Herald newspaper. Made quilts, embroidered pillowcases, quilt squares, aprons, and crafts for holidays, birthdays, births, weddings for her family and friends. She also sent birthday cards to her family and friends every year. The love and involvement she had with her family made her a good lifetime storyteller about them. She was a family historian and had an excellent memory of the past and present and could recall events, exact dates, and the names of every family member. 

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Louis Buras Jr; parents, James Nathaniel, and Bertha Mahala Byrd Sowell; sisters, Jenny (Chris) New, Mable (Stance) Smith, Myra Sowell and Sue (Wayne) Cain; brothers, Hubert (Vecie) Sowell, J.N. (Louise) Sowell, Eddie (Mamie Ruth) Sowell and Shorty (Margaret) Sowell; set of twins died shortly after birth; great-grandson, Dimitri Clinton; and several other family members. 

She is survived by her daughter, Florence (Randy) Porter of Richland, MS; son, Louis (Peggy) Buras III of Spring, TX; grandchildren, Michelle Clinton, Jessica (Jeremy) Secrest, Rodney Porter, Joshua (Meredith) Buras, Korrie (Brian) Henson, Brian (Malissa) Boudreaux and Kevin (Melissa) Boudreaux; 12 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews and other family members. 

Many will truly miss and remember her with love. 

The funeral will be officiated by Bro. Terry Fant from the Hickory Ridge Baptist Church in Florence, MS. 

Visitation and Funeral will be held at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 675 Howard Avenue, Biloxi, MS on Thursday, August 15, 2024. Visitation will be from 10:00am to 12:00pm, Funeral Service will be at 12:00pm, and Graveside Service will follow, at D’Iberville Memorial Park, 11041 Gorenflo Road, D’Iberville, MS.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Albertha Sowell Buras.