A member of the “Daughters of the American Revolution” and a preservationist of the French Quarter in the City of New Orleans, where she resided during most of her life, Elsie Mae was a fun loving Southern Belle, who surrounded herself with family, many musicians and life-long good friends.
Born in Quanah, Texas where her grandfather was the Sheriff, Elsie Mae met her husband Felix Burnett in music school at North Texas University. She sang with many bands of the Swing era including Sonny Denham, Vaughn Monroe, Glenn Miller and was one of the three “Moon Maids” who toured the USA. Together with the famous New Orleans Jazz musician Al Hirt, she recorded the now legendary Dixie Beer commercial, which played on the radio for many years. During their 37 years of marriage, she supported her husband Felix in the Lloyds of London Insurance partnership with his brokerage firm, Burnett and Company. Elsie and Felix were some of the select few, who were chosen to fly on the inaugural flight of the Concord and who often graced the boardroom at Lloyds with their infectious wit and humor.
Elsie frequently raised a glass to toast the occasion with the words ” good health, good life, prosperity and the time to enjoy it.” Her wonderful life and times surrounded by love, family and good music are celebrated and cherished by her granddaughters Marigny Lee and Jamie Burnett, loving daughter Lucy, a well known singer in New Orleans and her son-in law Gregory Holt. A few days before her 86th birthday, Elsie passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of January 15th