Josephine Wainman Burson was born in Memphis and educated in the public school system graduating from Memphis State University. She was a member of Baron Hirsch, Beth Sholom Synagogues. Her civic achievements were many; Commissioner Tennessee Department Employment Security – 1967-1971; Member, Governor’s Cabinet; Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women, 1967-1971; Chairman, Tennessee Savings Bond Committee, 1967-69; Vice President, Interstate Conference Employment Security Administrators, 1968-70; Trustee, Memphis State University Foundation; Vice Chairman, Advisory Committee, Women and Girls Employment Enabling Service; Vice President, Women in Cable Communications, 1973-74; Judicial Selection Committee, 1974; Past President, Hadassah, Memphis – 1947-48. She received the 1969 Humanitarian Award from B’nai B’rith. She was a delegate at five international Congresses, and a Jerusalem Delegate at the World Conference on Soviet Jewry, Brussels in 1971.
