Rev. Melvin Burnett

Obituary Reverend Melvin L. Burnett was birthed into this world on March 1, 1929 in Lebanon, Illinois to his beautiful loving parents Julius Burnett and Leona D. Mosley. He was raised in Lebanon, Illinois as a child where he attended Lebanon Public School with his two sisters, Estella Mae and Evelyn Burnett. Melvin who naturally as a child accepted God at a early age loved to sing and found great joy in sharing and spreading love to all those that came in contact with him. He enjoyed building things with his father, Julius, and helping him with the landscape, home building and farming production they would harvest yearly. February 24, 1948 Melvin joined the United States Army where he served as a private for six years in Germany. He also performed as a singer entertainer as well as a boxer while enlisted. After serving his time in the service, he then returned home to Lebanon, Illinois where he was blessed to meet the love of his life, Ms. Willie Mae Dockey, who was a student studying to become a school teacher at McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois. They then began a great friendship and courtship because Melvin had the greatest opportunity to spend quality time with Willie Mae because she was renting out a room space on the property where Melvin grew up as a child in the second housing space there as she attended McKendree University to pursue her dream. As Melvin and Willie Mae continued building their relationship, they fell in love and pursued happiness and adventure together as one unit. In 1957 in East St. Louis, Illinois Melvin and Willie Mae were married in Holy Matrimony at the New Era Missionary Baptist Church. They then proceeded to start a life of wonderful expectations in the city of Kansas City, Missouri where they purchased a home and began building a solid foundation to start a family. Melvin and Willie Mae attended Prince Of Peace Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor C. L. Williams where Melvin received his Certificate of License and call to The Gospel Ministry on February 8, 1976 and his Certificate of Ordination on November 26, 1978. Melvin traveled from far and near, state to state preaching, teaching and singing and telling all he could of God’s word and so many life experiences he could share and his lifelong testimonies to help others and petition those to become lovers of God. He had a true passion to be a living, walking example of what a man of God really looks, thinks and acts like. Melvin L. was a man of love, life and laughter and always enjoyed having a good conversation and making someone else smile every opportunity he had. A great man indeed. Never one to start problems, always one to have a resolve. A man who loved his wife and children dearly, treated people with respect and took his love for God and his life and ministry and the Legacy of the Burnett last name extremely seriously. A definitive description of what a man is. Melvin’s favorite gospel group of all time was The Dixie Hummingbirds, as well as singers Al Green, Sam Cook, Aretha Franklin and James Cleveland. A few of his hobbies were boxing, watching wrestling, building things, landscaping, teaching, gardening and planting flowers and a really good BBQ!! Most of all, he loved singing, laughing, good conversation, talking about God, ice cream and all of his sweet toothe entrees!! Sweet things for a sweet man. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and loved him. Reverend Melvin L. Burnett was preceded in death by his two loving parents, Julius Burnett and Leona D. Mosley Burnett, wife of fifty-five years Mrs. Willie Mae Burnett. Melvin departed this life and received his wings on February 11, 2022 at 9:40 a.m. He leaves behind his Legacy and cherished memories his two children, Yolanda Denise Burnett and LaRone Danell Burnett; three grandchildren, Juanita Devon Lawrence, Cierra Denise Burnett, DeShawn Steven Lawrence, Jr.; sister, Mrs. Evelyn Burnett Shelton; and a host of nieces, nephews, family members, clergymen and friends. Funeral Service will be held Saturday, March 12, 2022, 11:00am at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. Interment Forest Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9am-11am at the church., To view service online please visit https://vimeo.com/event/1839460. Service conducted by Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapel. Condolences may be shared on our website. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rev. Melvin Burnett, please visit our floral store. Read More

Rev. Melvin Burnett

March 1, 1929 - February 11, 2022