Mrs. Juanita (Burgess) Lyas departed this life on Friday, October 16, 2015. She was a proud graduate of Rosedale High School, Class of 1969. For over twenty-five years, Nita was employed by the Briarwood Presbyterian Church, where she faithfully served the Children's Ministry. A celebration of Nita's life will be held Saturday, October 24, 2015 at 12:00 Noon at Friendship Baptist Church, 2600 Central Avenue, Homewood, Alabama. Family Hour will be held Friday, October 23, 2015 from 4:30 until 6:30 P.M. at Smith & Gaston Southside Chapel, 102 - 6th Avenue S.W., Birmingham, AL 35211. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gary T. Lyas, Sr., and her parents, Marshall and Ida Burgess. Survivors include: her four children, Tania N. Burgess, Stephanie Lyas, Gary Tommy (Clare) Lyas and Reginald (RaKendra) Lyas; five grandchildren, Justin David Rush, Evan Reese Lyas, Nicholas Tommy Lyas, Eli Reginald Lyas and Alyson Marie Lyas, all of Birmingham, AL; two sisters, Mary Burgess (Lenwood) Crawford, Los Angeles, CA and Annie L. Burgess, Homewood, AL; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends. Smith & Gaston Southside directing.