Dr. Christy Lee Guion-Burnette

The service for Dr. Guion-Burnette will be live streamed on the Facebook Page of Fisher Memorial Funeral Parlor.

Christy Lee Guion-Burnette achieved a well-deserved rest on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, after battling illness for six years.  What is remarkable about her life, however, is not how she left it, but how she lived it.

Christy, the youngest of three children born on July 31, 1967, to Etheldreda (Dreda) Guion and the late Willie Seifert Guion, grew up in a close-knit, faith-filled, fun-loving family in Durham, North Carolina.  Christy’s life was a testament to her upbringing.  As an active member of Holy Cross Catholic Church, Christy (along with her childhood friend Leslie Blackmon Clark), was one of the first female altar servers in the Diocese before it was formally sanctioned.  She was also among the first members of Holy Cross’ Brownie Troop, and later Girl Scout Troop #801, the first troop dedicated to African American girls in North Carolina. At Hillside High School, Christy excelled in academics, sports, and other activities.  As an honor student, she lettered in track & field, and volleyball, and was a member of the marching and symphonic bands.  As a member of the Durham Striders, Christy was an AAU national champion in discus, shot put and javelin.  In 1985, Christy was crowned Miss Jabberwock by the Durham Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.

Christy took her academic and athletic talents to East Carolina University in Greenville, NC, earning a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology: Electronics (minor in business administration) in 1989 and a MS in Industrial Technology: Manufacturing in 1993. While there, she played volleyball with the grace and quiet strength that served her well on and off the court.

Professionally, Christy exuded the same tranquil spirit and warm, yet determined countenance she did in her personal life. She started her career in the field of quality control and operational efficiency first with Medtronic and later with Tyco Healthcare (both now Covidien).  While at Tyco, Christy met and developed a close bond with six other African American women, a rarity for the company at that time.  The “Seven Wonders” -- Christy, Erica, Halema, Kelly, Robin, Selena, and Shelly, are a special circle of sisters, that have formed life-long friendships.  These ladies were famous for their “girls’ trips,” long before the movie popularized the idea.

In 2010 while teaching and training at NC State University’s, School of Engineering/Industrial Extension Service, Christy earned a doctorate in Organization and Management at Capella University. With PhD in hand, she forged an impressive career as a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, solving complex operational and organizational challenges for the Department of Defense (2010) and with projects at Quantico (2011-2012).  In December 2012 Christy started working with Deloitte Consulting and remained there until her passing.  In addition to consulting, Christy taught as an Adjunct Faculty & Dissertation Chair, first at the National Graduate School of Quality and later at the New England College of Business.  Christy also served as an Examiner for the nationally recognized Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program and an ISO 9000 (quality management) Auditor.

Christy never met a spreadsheet didn’t like.  She loved to plan and organize special events and gatherings.  Whether you knew it or not, if you ever had the pleasure of traveling with her, she probably had a spreadsheet or planner with her.  She loved spending time with family and friends celebrating all aspects of life with good food that always tasted better when shared with good company.

On November 19, 2011, Christy Lee married Frankie Burnette the love of her life, and to this union they had a son, Mylze. Coupled with her oldest Jelani Mitchell, the kings of her life held her heart. In addition to her husband and sons, she is survived by her mother Etheldreda Guion, her sister Deirdre Guion Peoples (Liston) Durham, NC, her brother Willie Kent Guion (Jeannine)Wilmington, NC; a granddaughter Lunah Mitchell, Redmond, WA, a niece, Sydney Guion (Seattle, WA), a nephew, Gavin Guion (Americus, GA), an aunt, Henrietta Celestin (New Albany, IN), an uncle, Gerard (Tony) Ridge (New Orleans, LA); a devoted mother-in-law, Denise Burnette (Durham, NC) and two sisters-in-law Angela Burnette and Della Richardson and a host of other loving relatives and friends.  

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