Motley, Burtine Josephine (Washington)

Burtine Josephine (Washington) Motley, 76, died May 29, 2011, at home with her family after an extended illness, in Southfield, Mich.

Formerly a 28-year resident of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Burtine was the beloved wife of the late ophthalmologist, Reid E. Motley, M.D. Born to Edward Joseph Washington and Ida Rebecca Stone Washington, Burtine was a loving sister to E. Ruth Settler of Alabama, Willeen Washington of Michigan, Burton Washington of Illinois, Bonnie Murdah of Pennsylvania, the late Lawrence P. Washington, Esq of Illinois, Edward J. Washington of Michigan, and Doris Murray of Alabama. She is survived by her children, Rebecca Kathleene Motley, M.D. of Southfield, Mich., Reid Lawrence Motley of Glenwood, Iowa, and Edward Joseph Washington Motley of Southfield, Mich; and remembered by her wonderful friends Mary Santana; Lois Ann and George Eiacker; and the Copelands and the Bells.

Burtine Washington Motley graduated from Palmer Memorial Institute, a historically distinguished boarding school located in Sedalia, N.C. She attended Spelman College in Atlanta, Ga., the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich., and received her Bachelor of Science degree with a major in education and a minor in psychology from Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich.

Burtine enjoyed life and her work with children. She was the first African American teacher admitted to the Iowa City School systems and served as president of the Iowa City Classroom Teachers Association. A tireless advocate of the disenfranchised, she was appointed to, served on, and chaired a myriad regional, state, and city commissions and boards, including chairing the Region for the Iowa 2000 Life Enhancement Commission, serving on the Cedar Rapids Planning Commission and the Linn County Board of Supervisors, and the Linn County Board of Social Welfare. Burtine ran for the school board and State House of Representatives. In 1972 she served Iowa as an alternate delegate to the DNC in Miami and in 1988 as a delegate to the Atlanta DNC. In 1974, she founded and became the first president of the Alexander Clark Historical Society Inc. By 1978 despite enormous odds she succeeded in moving and thus preserving Clark's home in Muscatine, Iowa. Burtine was a committed member of many noted social and civic organizations. Her unrelenting drive, intrepid courage, and willingness to give of herself are hallmarks by which she will always be remembered.

Memorial services will be held at the Wilson-Aikins Funeral Home, Westside Chapel, 17500 Fenkell Ave., Detroit MI 48227, Friday, July 29, 2011, at 6 p.m.