Talmadge Odessa Smith Burkhead, or Tally as she is known to all, was born on October 20, 1924 in Bruce, Florida to Eugene and Hettie Burke Smith. The family including three sisters and one brother eventually moved to Pensacola. She graduated from Pensacola High School. In 1942 she met George F. Burkhead, Jr. of Ashboro, NC who was stationed at Pensacola Naval Air Station where he worked as a photographer. They married in Mobile, AL on January 15, 1943. They made their home in Pensacola after George was discharged from the Navy in 1945. Their only, child, George F. Burkhead, III was born in May 1945. George and Tally were married for 39 years. They both worked outside the home, George as a professional photographer and Tally worked at Lerner’s clothing store before taking a job with Escambia County civil service – she retired as office manager for the Escambia County Extension Office. During their time together, they had many friends and loved to travel, camping out with their small travel trailer, until they upgraded to a 30 ft Airstream. After that, they joined the local Airstream Club and traveled around the country with their travel friends. When her husband passed away in 1982, Tally continued a very independent lifestyle. As all her friends and family can attest, Tally was a very independent lady who loved nothing more than traveling – whether road trips with friends – or pulling the 30 ft Airstream – on her own. For three summers when her granddaughter, Robin, was aged 10-12, she traveled three months each summer with her grandmother and their Airstream travel club all across America and parts of Canada. They always returned with some fun – and harrowing – stories of their travels. Tally continued traveling with her friends until she was physically unable to do so.. Tally served several terms as President of the local Airstream Travel Club. Her other passion was doing genealogy research for her family and her husband’s family. Upon completing her family research, she became a member of the Daughters of 1812. When her family research was complete, she continued her interest in genealogy by becoming a member of the West Florida Genealogy Society and a Life Member of the Baldwin County Genealogy Society. She and her friends traveled frequently to Baldwin County and other areas in search of information for their projects. She spent untold hours in her efforts, telling us of the times she tramped through cemeteries searching out information on headstones long forgotten. Through her work at the Extension Office, Tally organized many of the exhibit booths for the office at the Pensacola Interstate Fair, assisting young students and young homemakers to make their booth the best it could be. As a member of Myrtle Grove Baptist Church, Tally volunteered in the church office weekly with her friend Betty, assisting with the church bulletin and anything else that was asked of her. She also helped decorate the church Christmas tree. Tally had a natural ability for decorating. She would always volunteer to handle the decorations for any organization she was involved in. She loved to take baked goods to her friends at Christmas and to any business who helped her throughout the year, her auto shop, her bank and her former office mates. They looked forward to her arrival every year. Anyone who knew Tally knew that she was fiercely independent and was not afraid to do things on her own. She never asked for help if she could do it herself. As her son and daughter-in-law spoke with her friends in recent days, each one said how much they loved Tally and what a good friend she had been to them. They and her family will miss her greatly. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family on Friday, December 18, 2020 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Bayview Fisher-Pou Funeral Home, immediately followed by a service. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Myrtle Grove Baptist Church. Arrangements have been entrusted to Bayview Fisher-Pou Funeral Home. Date of passing: 12.12.2020 BAYVIEW FISHER-POU CHAPEL 3351 Scenic Highway 90e