The world became a smaller place with the passing of Regina Ann Burnett on December, 19, 2020 at the age of 78. Regina was a dynamic woman with a resilient spirit. As the oldest child of Vassel and Josephine Sanders, she was born on January 16, 1942 in Tyler, Texas. To escape the Jim Crow South, Vassel moved his budding family to Detroit, Michigan when Regina was just a baby.

In 1943, Regina became a big sister with the birth of her little brother and best friend Milton. She developed a take-charge spirit and caring nature as her big-sister responsibilities grew with the additions of Hiram, then Cynthia and finally Gwendolyn to the Sanders family. Regina cherished and took seriously her role as older sister her entire life.

As a teen, Regina valued her education as well as her independence. Instead of attending the local public high school, she asked her father if she could attend the High School of Commerce and Business Administration. The prestigious all-girls high school prepared Regina to navigate a career in business at a time when many young girls were conditioned to aspire to marriage and motherhood. At the tender age of 18, Regina married her sweetheart Augustus Burnett in 1960. Because of Augustus’ early career in the army, the two lived briefly in Washington, D.C. before settling and purchasing a home in Detroit not too far from her parents. In 1964 Regina became a proud mother, giving birth to her only child Todd Eric Burnett In 1997 she was even more delighted to become ‘Nana’ to her one and only grandchild, Augustus Eric Burnett III.

With a fiery, charismatic and tell-it-like-it-is attitude, Regina worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield for 44 years, retiring from the company in 2002. Over the course of her career, Regina met a host of other strong women who became her lifelong friends. Although Regina had tremendous professional success, her greatest accomplishments are the innumerable lives that she has positively impacted and influenced.

As a member of Greater Grace Church, Regina was a woman of God and deeply committed to her faith. Regina was a bold and brilliant woman; a brave and courageous soul. She will be intensely missed.