Burwell joined the First Baptist-Statesville staff in 1990 as senior minister’s secretary, and served in that position until 2006.  She now works part-time in the church office as publications coordinator. A native of Reidsville, NC, she graduated from Queens University in Charlotte and later earned a Master of Library Science degree from UNC-Greensboro.

Before joining the church staff, she worked as a reporter and editor at newspapers in Charlotte, Durham, Reidsville and Statesville. She served as city editor, Sunday editor, and city and county government reporter for the Statesville Record & Landmark, and later was a staff writer for the Iredell Citizen. Writing and publications are still among her strongest interests, and she also enjoys reading and listening to music -- “everything from classical to Celtic, Southern rock, bluegrass and folk music.”

Since coming to Iredell County in 1971, she has also worked as a media specialist at Union Grove School. Her son, Trey, and his wife, Crystal, live in Raleigh.