PEMBROKE — Sharon McNeill Burnette will now represent the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina as its newest Senior Ms. Lumbee.

She was crowned winner recently during a pageant held before a packed crowd gathered inside the Givens Performing Arts Center at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Burnette was among five contestants competing — Tammie Jump, Clementine Porter, Marylyn Bullard, and Joan Blackwell. Jump took first runner-up, Blackwell received second Place, Porter was third Place and Bullard received fourth Place and the People’s Choice winner.

Contestants must be ages 55 and up and an enrolled Lumbee Tribal member.

About Burnette

Burnette was born in Rennert to parents Mary Jones and NJ McNeill.

“My work ethics were instilled in me by my mother, where she worked hard all her life to support her children,” Burnette wrote in a bio. “I learned to crop tobacco at the age of 10 for $18 a week.”

She went on to earn an Associate Degree of Applied Science in 1996 in Business Administration, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from The University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Burnette is currently employed with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety at Lumberton Correctional Institutional as a correctional case manager, and volunteer coordinator with the local community volunteers that take their time weekly to serve offenders.

The new Senior Ms. Lumbee has been married to Robert Burnette for more than 30 years. They have two daughters, Francesca Nicole and Samaria Karin Burnette.

They are affiliated with the Baptist Church Association and currently attend Union Chapel Community Baptist Church.

Burnette said she enjoys reading devotional books and scripture daily.

“My passion and love are to sing and go to the beach at any chance I get,” Burnette stated.

Her platform

Burnette stated that she will “proudly support our heritage of the Native American, Lumbee People with Pride, Dignity and Grace, and become visible in our community, county, and State as needed when possible, around my responsibility to my employer.”

“Our children are struggling with drug addicts, suicidal thoughts, depression, violence, and many other mental illnesses,” she continued. “As your Senior Ms. Lumbee, I hope to bridge the gap with the assistance of our elders to reconnect with the youth bringing back our roots. It is our responsibility mine included that we LEAD, Guide, and Mentor them to STOP and KEEP them from an overcrowding Prison system.”

Making a comeback

It’s been two years since the last pageant took place. Burnette takes the place of Sharon Jones, who reigned as Senior Ms. Lumbee since 2019. That year Dale Hunt was the first runner-up and the People’s Choice winner, which was selected by audience members during intermission. Marilyn Bullard won the title of Ms. Congeniality. Betty Brewington was the third runner-up.