ELBA GARCIA-BURKE, 87, OF LAS CRUCES PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY ON May 10, 2024. ELBA WAS BORN IN LA UNION, NEW MEXICO ON JULY 30, 1936 TO VICENTE ENRIQUEZ GARCIA AND ALBINA MALDONADO GARCIA.

ELBA IS PREDECEASED BY HER LATE HUSBAND, SAMUEL, (SAMMY), EUGENE BURKE. ELBA IS SURVIVED BY HER THREE CHILDREN, ROCKY, LOUIE AND SHELLY BURKE. TWO GRANDCHILDREN, SAMANTHA AND VICENTE BURKE. ONE GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER, HARPER BURKE AND MANY NIECES, NEPHEWS AND COUSINS.

ELBA WAS RECOGNIZED NOT ONLY THROUGHOUT THE NEW MEXICO COMMUNITY, BUT NATIONALLY FOR HER WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, WHERE SHE DIRECTED THE WORK OF THE WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE TO ASSIST HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, ALONG WITH THE NATIONAL FEDERAL WOMEN'S PROGRAM, THE TRIBAL COLLEGE PROGRAM AND THE NATIONAL HISPANIC PROGRAM.  IN ADDITION, ELBA SERVED AS A MEMBER AND CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS UNIVERSITY AND PRESIDENT OF THE LAS CRUCES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. ELBA WAS ALSO BRAVE ENOUGH TO PURSUE HER HAND AS A BOXING PROMOTOR BRINGING IN A NATIONAL NETWORK TO LAS CRUCES.

ELBA LOVED HER JEWELRY, CLOTHES, HATS AND SHOES. SHE WAS ONCE GIVEN THE HONOR OF " NEW MEXICO'S BEST DRESSED WOMAN". ELBA TOOK PRIDE IN ALWAYS LOOKING HER "MOVIE STAR" BEST.

ELBA'S EXTENSIVE TRAVEL WITH HER LATE HUSBAND AND LATER IN HER CAREER, TOOK HER ALL OVER THE WORLD. ELBA ALWAYS WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO HELP HER COMMUNITY WITH AN OPEN MIND, OPEN DOOR AND ENDLESS PERSEVERANCE.  ELBA WILL ALWAYS BE A STAR ENDEARING HER LEGACY AS A MATRIARCH AND ROLE MODEL.

A PRAYER VIGIL WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY MAY 29, 2024 AT BACA'S FUNERAL CHAPEL, 300 E BOUTZ ROAD. VISITATIONS WILL BEGIN AT 05:00 P.M. AND RECITATION OF THE HOLY ROSARY WILL BEGIN AT 07:00P.M. THE FUNERAL MASS WILL BE CELEBRATED THURSDAY MAY 30, 2024 AT 10:00 A.M AT THE CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY, 1240 S. ESPINA STREET. INTERMENT AND RITE OF COMMITTAL WILL CONCLUDE AT HILLCREST MEMORIAL GARDENS, 5140 W. PICACHO AVENUE.

Service arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapels of Las Cruces and Sunset Crematory, 527-2222. Your exclusive provider for "Veterans and Family Memorial Care." For online condolences logon to www.bacasfuneralchapelslascruces.com