Lynda Louise Carlson Burnside

July 23, 1947 – March 20, 2025

Lynda Louise Carlson Burnside, beloved mother, grandmother, and tireless advocate for children, passed away peacefully on March 20, 2025, in Glen Allen, Virginia. She was 77 years old.

Born on July 23, 1947, in Concord, New Hampshire, Lynda was the daughter of Einar Gustave Carlson and Mildred Margaret Fifield. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Arvid Carlson, her beloved husband Hilliard Luther Burnside (2009), and her grandson Jaydin Sandoval-Burnside (2024).

Lynda grew up in New Hampshire, where her family settled on a cherished farmhouse on Robert Rogers Road in Dunbarton during the 1960s. That home became the heart of her life’s work and family. In 1981, Lynda purchased the farmhouse from her parents and raised her own children there, remaining in Dunbarton until 2015.

She graduated from Concord High School in 1965 and briefly attended Vermont College. In the early 1970s, while living in Boston, Massachusetts, Lynda met the love of her life, Hilliard Luther Burnside Jr, in a moment as charming and unusual as the bond they would share—when she spotted him walking his cat on a leash through the city streets. That unexpected encounter led to a beautiful partnership, and they were married on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1975, in Concord, New Hampshire.

In 1989, Lynda's life took a dramatic turn when Hilliard, who had lived with the effects of childhood polio, began experiencing post-polio symptoms that ultimately left him unable to work and confined to a wheelchair. Suddenly, Lynda became the sole breadwinner for the family while Hilliard became the stay-at-home parent. This turning point ignited Lynda’s determination to return to school while working full time. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Springfield College in 1994, followed by a Master’s degree in Psychology from Notre Dame College in 1997. Her drive and compassion also led her to take leadership roles in several New Hampshire-based nonprofits, where she served as CEO and successfully strengthened their operations, leaving a lasting impact on the communities they served.

Lynda was also a passionate advocate for children with special needs. In Dunbarton, she became a strong and compassionate voice for Special Education services, working tirelessly to ensure children received the support and opportunities they deserved.

Lynda’s greatest joy was her family. She is survived by her five children and their families:

• Luther Burnside, and his children Kory, Kate, Georgia, Maya, and Kyra

• Trish Killeen, and her children Kristine Hughes, Megan Perkins, and Sarah Agars

• Jason Burnside, and his children Samuel and David

• Keith Burnside, and his children Adryen and Evalyn Sandoval-Burnside

• Margaret Steinman, and her children Autumn and Hunter

Lynda will be remembered for her strength, her wit, her boundless love, and the way she fiercely advocated for others. Her legacy lives on in her children and grandchildren, in the countless lives she touched, and in the values she instilled in those who knew her.

A celebration of Lynda’s life will be held on Saturday June 14th at the Dunbarton Congregational Church in New Hampshire. She will be laid to rest next to her husband and her parents in the Dunbarton Cemetery, near her beloved Dunbarton home.

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