Origins
The Founding of the Burleson Family Association
The Burleson Family Association was founded in March 1981 when four family members met in Alabama to establish a family non-profit corporation. Those individuals were William S. Burleson (AL), David A. Burleson (AL), Mary Belle Keller (TX), and Rita Burleson Bryan (TX). The founder's main goals were to:
preserve genealogical and historical material of the Burleson family
bring family members closer through fellowship and reunions
publish a bulletin for members to receive and share family information
Click here for a list of Important Dates in BFA History
The Burleson Family Bulletin
The Burleson Family Bulletin was created by its new Editor, Mary Belle Keller, and the first issue was sent out to members in 1981. It quickly became recognized as an authoritative source of information for the Burleson family.
The Burleson Family Bulletin is still published for members and available via e-mail and by postal mail. Editors following Mary Belle Keller were Helen Kelso, Paula Denson, and the current Editor, Kay Burleson.
A drawing of Westview is the cover image on the Burleson Family Bulletin.
Westview Plantation
Six Generations of Burlesons
Westview is the oldest remaining plantation home in Morgan County, Alabama, where six generations of the Burleson family have lived since it was built on Burleson Mountain in 1841. A scrawl in the cement of one of the remaining chimneys proclaims that Westview was completed October 6, 1841, on the 52nd birthday of its owner, Jonathan A. Burleson.
Jonathan Burleson came into what is now North Alabama in 1808. He settled in Morgan County in 1815 on land deeded to him by the US Government for his services in the War of 1812.
Jonathan's great-great-grandson, David A. Burleson, owns Westview now and resides there with his wife, Anne. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Several Burleson family reunions have been held in Alabama: Decatur, AL, 1987; Decatur, AL, 1991; Decatur, AL, 2001; Decatur, AL, 2011; Hamilton, AL(no year); and Decatur, AL, 2019. The activities always included a visit to Westview, and everyone enjoyed visiting this beautiful home and the hospitality of David and Anne Burleson.
Westview is also dubbed as "Burleson's Heaven." David A. Burleson wrote a book about his home in 2019. A copy was given to everyone attending the reunion in Decatur, Alabama, that year. Copies are still available to purchase from BFA.
A view of the home from a1965 postcard is found in the Alabama Digital Archive.