Burnetta Mae (Wilson) Hardy was born on April 8, 1943, to Dorothy Wilson and Clarence Harris (both deceased) in Baltimore, Maryland. She departed this life on Saturday, March 29,2025.

Burnetta was the oldest of her siblings. She was raised in East Baltimore in the Fells Point area. She graduated from Clifton Jr. High School and Eastern High School. Burnetta received the McAuliffe Scholarship. She attended Baltimore City Community College, where she earned a certificate in Early Childhood Education. She also earned her Associates of Arts degree from Sojourner Douglass College where she majored in Education.

Burnetta has always been very charismatic and loved to spark up a conversation with just about anybody. Throughout her early adulthood, she joined the Black Panther Party (led by Huey P. Newton) and was active until they left Baltimore in the 70's. During all of this, she parented three amazing children: Thomas Washington III, Kimberly (Washington) Bokoum, and Sherri Washington.

Burnetta worked several jobs to care for her children. She was very active in all communities she resided in by hosting block parties, cookouts, and other community affairs. She also started a track team called the "Hollander Ridge Cougars", who competed and won many awards.

Burnetta had a passion for shopping for herself and her family. She enjoyed eating seafood and Chinese food. Mostly she loved spending time with her family and friends. Burnetta was charming and would often sing to her children, grandchildren, and many others. She participated in adult beauty pageants and loved performing "Achy Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus. There was never a dull moment when she entered the room.