Just hours after feeling flu-like symptoms, Pearland teacher suddenly dies

Tracie Burroughs, Pearland High School's Teacher of the Year in 2013, died Feb. 11 after suddenly becoming ill. Photo courtesy of Pearland ISD. Tracie Burroughs, Pearland High School's Teacher of the Year in 2013, died Feb. 11 after suddenly becoming ill. Photo courtesy of Pearland ISD. Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close Just hours after feeling flu-like symptoms, Pearland teacher suddenly dies 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

The Pearland community is mourning the loss of a popular teacher, who died within hours after becoming ill.

Tracie Burroughs, who taught Spanish at Pearland High School and was its 2013 Teacher of the Year, died Feb. 11, according to a school district statement.

"Pearland ISD is deeply saddened by the death of one of our employees," said the statement issued Thursday.

Burroughs, 47, had worked nine years for the district.

"Pearland ISD will continue to provide counselors throughout the week for students and staff. At this time, we do not have any other details or know the cause of death," the statement said.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Feb. 17 at Harvest Time Church, 17770 Imperial Valley Drive, in Houston, following the viewing from 9-11 a.m. the same day.

Burroughs had attended Harvest Time Church with her family for about 12 years, said Bishop Shelton Bady, the senior pastor.

"She was one of the most loving, caring, sensitive people I've met," Bady said. "Her whole household was open."

Burroughs lived in the Manvel area with her husband and two children. Every Sunday, as well as mid-week, the family made the nearly 40-mile drive to the church in the Greenspoint neighborhood on Houston's north side.

About once a month on a Sunday afternoon, they would invite the church to their home for dinner, Bady said.

"They would say, 'Come on by,' and easily 40 or 50 people just showed up," the pastor said. "They're just friendly people."

Burroughs also mentored young women from the church and in July was scheduled to take a group to Spain, he said.

Church members are still in shock at the news of her death, Bady said.

Although he didn't know details of her illness, Bady said Burroughs apparently began feeling ill at school on Feb. 10 and went to an urgent-care clinic in the afternoon, reporting flu-like symptoms.

During the night she began feeling worse and collapsed at home about 3 a.m. Feb. 11, Bady said. An ambulance took her to Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, he said.

The loss has left the congregation "tearful and hopeful," the pastor said.

"We're tearful because she touched us, and we miss her greatly," he said. "We're still hopeful because we know she left a legacy of faith. She was a strong believer and raised her children to trust God. She was a great example of everything she said."

Burroughs is survived by her husband, Willie Burroughs, a son and daughter and two adult step-sons.

In December, four people in Montgomery County died after reporting "flu-like" symptoms. Four others were hospitalized with similar symptoms and one was later found to have H1N1 flu virus, officials said at the time.

Hospitals are not required to report flu cases to public health agencies.