Margaret Burney

AIKEN, SC - Mrs. Margaret White “Peg” Burney, 95, passed away Friday, October 8, 2021. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Tuesday, October 12, 2021 with The Rev. Jason Hammersley officiating. Interment will in Aiken Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the church beginning at 10:00 AM. Born in Corbin, KY, Mrs. Burney was a daughter of the late Ruth and Elmer White. After the death of her father, the family moved to Jellico, TN where she graduated high school. This was at the start of WWII, and she was quickly recruited to work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Her team of “Mountain Girls” were instrumental in assisting scientists in the electronic separation of the Isotope. It is here were she met her late husband, Glenn Burney. After the war, Mr. Burney went on the receive his PhD in Nuclear Chemistry at the University of Michigan, while Mrs. Burning worked for Kaiser Automotive Company to help support the family. He and Mrs. Burney then moved to Aiken where he worked with Dupont at the Savannah River Plant. They started a family here, adopting three children. After Mr. Burney’s retirement in 1989, they spent a lot of time traveling, but was always glad to come home. She is survived by her son, Michael (Tammy) Burney, Aiken, SC and four grandchildren. In addition to her husband and parents, Mrs. Burney was preceded in death by her daughter, Margaret Anne Burney, son, Mark Burney and a brother, Robert White. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to South Aiken Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 1711 Whiskey Rd., Aiken, SC 29803. SHELLHOUSE-RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, INC., 715 E. PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC 29803 To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Margaret Burney, please visit our flower store.