BEGGS, Okla. – Susie Nellie Burke recently celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by close friends and family. The special milestone was celebrated at Burke’s home, located on her family’s original allotment. Born in 1924, the centenarian was born the same year as former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, as well as the same year the U.S Indian Citizenship Act was passed. Susie Burke has lived nearly as long as Native Americans have had the right to vote.
Susie Burke initially raised her family in Tulsa. After her husband passed away, she moved back to her family’s allotment to be closer to her brother, former Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief A.D. Ellis and his wife, Gail Ellis. They are now currently next door neighbors. A.D. Ellis can still be seen outside mowing the lawn on his red riding mower.
Both A.D. Ellis and Susie Burke grew up in a big family that attended Concharty Indian Methodist Church where their grandfather was the pastor. For A.D. Ellis, it is special to still live on his family’s allotment where he grew up.
“It means a lot to me, I was a farmer for a long time. I grew a lot of crops here,” A.D. Ellis said. That was part of what Creeks were doing, they were farmers back years ago. It’s carried on the tradition. I put a lot of value in that land.”
Susie Burke operated an herb business with her late husband, Dave Burke. Headquartered in Utah, the company conducted business around the globe.
“I went to every country there is,” Susie Burke said. “We’d go and catch the plane and stop here, stop there. We traveled every month, I did not have much time at home because Dave and I were both busy.”
To name a few countries Burke has been to include Turkey, Istanbul, and Egypt. She has traveled to several different continents including Africa and Europe. Burke’s multi-level company allowed her and her husband to travel virtually everywhere.
Susie Burke has been active her entire life, nothing slows her down. To Burke’s granddaughter, Channing Johnston, she was known as Memaw Susie. According to her, you could still find her outside her house on a ladder doing yard work, a tenacious trait she passed down to her children.
“She was cleaning gutters when she was 80 years old,” Johnston said. “She was up on the roof cleaning gutters. My mom, her daughter, who was 81, was also cleaning gutters.”
Some of Johnston’s fondest memories of her grandmother are vacations spent at Padre Island. The family used to load up in a motorhome and go crabbing at the beach.
How to Live a Fulfilling Life
When given the privilege to interview a centenarian, journalists inevitably ask what their secret is to living such a long and fulfilling life. Susan Burke’s advice is to simply keep moving forward and to not be afraid to try new things.“My secret’s my feet, you’ve got to do things.” Susie Burke said. “Too many people say ‘I’d like to try that’ but they don’t go up and ask about it, or think ‘I might be good at that’.”
A.D. Ellis, who is 89 years old, has also lived a very long life. He served in the Air Force, as well as several terms as a National Council member and two terms as principal chief. When asked about what is important to leading a fulfilling life, Ellis believes it is education.
“I think that is the most important thing. I supported the college (College of Muscogee Nation). I told Mike Flood we needed the college. Mainly education.” Ellis said.
Ann Smith and Kaye Burke are Susie Burke’s step daughters. Both have fond memories growing up with their stepmother, spending Thanksgiving holidays together and exploring the family’s farm. Smith also remembers camping and traveling in their family’s motorhome.
“These memories gave us a sense of adventure that we probably would have never had otherwise without all the extended family, with Susie and all her siblings,” Smith said.
Kaye Burke remembers riding in the family’s Chevrolet El Camino. The family took trips to Dallas and Fort Worth. A memory that stood out for Kaye Burke is piling in the car to go see movies at the drive in. After Kaye Burke’s father passed away, she kept in touch with her step mom. To this day they still enjoy spending time with one another.
“She’s amazing, I hope I can navigate my way through life as well as she did,” Kaye Burke said. “I’ll say ‘hey let’s get our nails done’, and she’s ready to go. She’s always up for an adventure.”
After speaking with several family members about Susie Burke’s incredible life and legacy, it was apparent that she is surrounded by many who love and appreciate her.
“Memaw has been the best grandmother ever,” Johnston said. “She’s been so giving, I don’t know what I am going to do without her. I am so very lucky and so thankful for everything.”
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau there are an estimated 101,000 centenarians in the United States or 0.03% of the population. That number is expected to reach 0.1% by 2054. Of the current centenarian population in the United States, less than one percent are Native American.
When asked what Susie Burke’s 100th birthday wish would be, she replied that she did not have one this year simply because she had “done it all”.
