Lee Roy Burks

September 4, 1953 - October 15, 2017

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: John 11:25 Hey everybody I know you thought you would not see me here at this time, but I’m glad you all came to say goodbye to me and I pray our souls will meet again. I, Lee Burks was born on September 4, 1953 in Yazoo City, Mississippi to the late Willie Lee Burks, Sr. and Dora Mae Jackson Burks. From an early age I lived with my father and stepmother and four siblings. My father demonstrated and enforced me to have strong ethics. During my teenage years, I moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where I lived with my mother and again 4 more siblings. There was never a boring day in the house. Everyday my feet hit the floor we went to school. Sunday when my mother got up to go to church we all had to be ready to walk out with her. After I graduated from West Division High School my work ethic was enforce by my mother, I am now a workaholic. I’ve always had 2 jobs sometimes 3 I was a member of Guiding Light M.B Church. I loved singing in the church especially when the sisters in church should and praise the Lord. I moved from Milwaukee, WI in 1986 to Nashville, TN where I married Gerald Watkins. I joined Mt. Paren P.B. Church and was a faithful member. I was employed as a Custodian at Christ Presbyterian for 15 years. I began working for the Tennessean Newspaper in 2003. In 2005 I started working with the Book Binding Company until 2016. I remained faithful to the Tennessean until the Lord called me home. Lee Roy was a person of Faith and lived life serving others. He enjoyed life, family and many friends. He always had a smile on his face and a joke on his lips. He was a kind and gentle person. As I ascend to heaven I leave to cherish my memories, my best friend and mother, Dora Mae Burks of Milwaukee, WI; daughter, Philander (Randolph) Totts; my wife, Gerald Burks; my companion and the love of my life, Evelyn Smith whom we collaborated a deep relationship based on mutual support and a deep love for each other; 4 sisters, Willie M. Smith and Katie Jackson of Milwaukee, WI, Delphine (William) Penquitel of Terry, MS, Tiffany Burks of Jackson, MS; 5 brothers, Billie (Pat), Willie Burks of Huntsville, AL, Bobby (Linda), Johnny and Corey Burks all of Jackson, MS; aunts, Lotitia Smith, Katheryn Jackson of Milwaukee, WI, Louise Miller of Grand Rspids, MS; uncle, Elbert Jackson of Columbus, GA, 3 step children, Turnita, James and James Armondo Watkins of Nashville, TN; grandson, Dontell Watkins other relatives and friends