Ortus Velma Burns, 71, of Benton, passed away at 4:48 a.m. Monday, April 7, 2014 at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Funeral Services will be held at 12:00 noon Friday, April 11, 2014 at the First Christian Church of Benton, with Rev. Kurt Sanders officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral hour at 12:00 noon. Funeral services and arrangements are being conducted by the Leffler - Poulson Funeral Home of Benton. Ortus Velma Burns was born on September 21, 1942 in Perry County, IL, the daughter of Floyd Lewis Burns and Mary Ann (Fowler) Burns. Ms. Burns was a 58 year member of The First Christian Church of Benton, where she was involved with the Christian Youth Fellowship for many years. She started her working career in education as a school teacher, having worked in Lamont and Carmi Illinois school systems. She would seek to continue her education and would receive her Master's Degree from Eastern Illinois University and later would work a career as an Apartment Building Manager in Chicago, and would later work and retire from the Midland Agency on Aging in Centralia. She is survived by one brother Floyd Burns of Benton, a nephew Lee Otis Sexton and wife Lana of Channahon, IL, several cousins, great-nieces and great-nephews. Velma was preceded in death by her parents; a sister Mary Lou Sexton, an infant sister, a niece Cathy (Sexton) King, two nephews Thomas Floyd Sexton and Timothy Dale Sexton. Memorial contributions may be made to the family of Ortus Velma Burns and will be accepted at the church, or can be mailed to the Leffler - Poulson Funeral Home, 401 East Main Street, Benton, IL 62812. To view the obituary or to sign the online guest register book, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com