Henry And Laura Burnett House

Henry Burnett built 1208 Fayetteville in 1910 for his family, including his wife, Laura Burnett, and children Henry Burnett Jr., Frank Burnett, Catherine Burnett, and Nannie Burnett Smith. Henry was a delivery driver/chauffeur, and Laura worked as a maid and cook. Henry passed away in 1928 at the estimated age of 45.

Laura was a part of many local Durham clubs, including the Utopia Club and the Price Street Neighborhood Club. She would often host these clubs at 1208 Fayetteville. She was also a charter member of the Daughters of Isis, who awarded her “Mother of the Year” in 1968.

Their children grew up in 1208 Fayetteville, with some staying in Durham, while others eventually left. Sadly, two of their daughters passed away in their twenties. Catherine Burnett passed away at 25 years old in 1939 after suffering from an undisclosed illness. Catherine attended Hillside High School and was lauded for her excellence in sports. At the time of her passing, Catherine worked as a secretary for the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company. She had previously completed a year of schooling at West Virginia State University. She was also a member of the Davis-Satterfield Dramatic Club. 

Blanche Mae Burnett passed away in 1934 at the age of 22 due to an issue with her pregnancy. Before her passing, Blanche worked as a social service worker.

In Nannie Burnett’s obituary, a sixth child, Rudolph Burnett, is mentioned. There is little to no documentation about Rudolph, and he never lived in 1208 Fayetteville, likely meaning he died in infancy or at a very young age.

Frank Burnett was the Burnetts’ oldest child. He lived in 1208 Fayetteville with his family until 1938, when he and his wife, Beatrice Burnett, moved into 622 Dunbar. Frank lived at 622 Dunbar for the rest of his life. Beatrice was from Cambridge, Massachusetts, and earned her Juris Doctor degree from Portia Law School. She came to Durham in 1930 and worked for the Bankers Fire Insurance, and then as the assistant registrar at North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central University). She was a part of numerous community groups in Durham, including the LaSertomas, the Daughters of Isis, and the Order of the Golden Circle. She was also a founding member of the Zeta Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Frank and Beatrice had two daughters, Andrea Burnett Meyers and Catherine Burnett Mangum. 

 Frank attended West Virginia State University for his bachelor's degree and North Carolina College for his graduate degree. Frank became a teacher, first teaching at a Chatham County School, and then at Hillside High School. He was then principal at Burton Elementary, formerly East Durham Colored School, starting in 1939. He also helped to rename the school. He went on to become principal at Lyon Park School, and finally W.G. Pearson School from 1961 until his retirement in 1975. Notably, in 1969, he was the first African American to be awarded “Father of the Year” in Durham. The next year, the Durham Outboard Boating chose him as the “Man of the Year.” Frank was also a member of the Zafa Temple Shriners.

Frank was very involved with the James E. Shepard Sertoma Club. Sertoma is short for Service to Mankind; it is a national organization and “...one of the oldest service clubs in the United States.” Frank was one of the first 28 members and, at one point, the president. He would go on to become the first Black International Director of the Atlantic Region. Mayor Syliva S. Kerckhoff named August 16th, 1997, Frank G. Burnett Day, an award for his service with the Seratoma Club. After his death, the James E. Shepard Seratoma club created a scholarship in his name. The Frank G. Burnett Scholarship went to North Carolina Central University Master’s students in the Department of Speech and Communication Disorders. 

Frank was also a collegiate football and basketball official for the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. In 1939, he was appointed as head of the publicity department for North Carolina College athletics. He was also the supervisor of officials for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, another league.  He was inducted into the CIAA Officials Hall of Fame in 1981 after 40 years of service. 

Nannie Ruth Burnett Smith was the youngest daughter of the Burnett family. During high school, Nannie swam, played tennis, and did multiple other sports.  She attended Virginia State College in 1940. After getting her degree, she moved to Westchester County, New York, where she taught P.E. and science. She then came back to Durham to attend graduate school. After she married her husband, William A. Smith, they eventually moved to Denver, Colorado. Together, they had two daughters, Patricia Smith Raybon and Dr. Lauretta Smith Lyle.

While in Colorado, Nannie continued as a P.E. teacher at Mitchell Elementary School. She was lauded for her community work in Colorado. In 1987, she was one of nine winners in the whole state to win Channel 9’s “9 Who Care” for her work as a volunteer. That same year, she also won the  Community Service Award from the Colorado Black Women for Political Action. Additionally, Denver Mayor Wellington Webb named her the 2003 “Mile High Legend-Unsung Hero.”

The youngest Burnett child was Henry Stephen Burnett, Jr. He went to North Carolina College before serving in the United States Army. He was honorably discharged from Fort Bragg in 1946. In 1945, he received the “Soldier’s Medal,” an award given for heroism. After finishing his service in the army, he attended Atlanta School of Social Services. He graduated with a degree in social sciences. He then went on to work for the Guilford County Department of Social Services in Greensboro, North Carolina, for the remainder of his career. Henry married Betty Burnett, and together they had two sons, Henry Stephen Burnett III and Kenneth Burnett.

 The entire family was very involved at St. Joseph’s A.M.E. Church. Laura was a member for 65 years and participated in the Pastor’s Aid Club, the Carolina Barnes Missionary Society, and the Moxahala Class. She was also awarded “Mother of the Year” by the church in 1969. Catherine and Henry Burnett were both members of the St. Joseph’s choir.

The home was also used as apartments, as demonstrated by building permits throughout the years. Multiple individuals, including Boisie McIntosh, Ector Williams, and Raymond Long, are listed in newspaper articles as having lived at the property, but not in the city directories. This likely means numerous other individuals lived on the property whose occupancy cannot be determined.