Mr. Weston Burkhalter

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them” Rev. 14:13 Weston Burkhalter was born on July 7, 1935, the second of ten children to the union of the late Willie “Dumas” Burkhalter and Mecia Dyson Burkhalter in Sunny Hill, LA. He entered into his eternal resting place on August 15, 2023 in Hammond, LA. At an early age he became a member of Union Chapel AME Church where he served in different capacities including church treasurer and Head Steward. He remained a faithful member and attended as often as he could once his health began to fail. He always wanted to make sure that his family was ok and would do whatever he could to help them. He was a friend and advisor to his church members and community. Many would say he was a “gentle giant” in that he would give out toughness with kindness. He was employed by Hayward Green Company of Franklinton, LA for many years. He worked on the Hayward Green Farms as a farm laborer until its closing, at which time he moved to the gravel pits owned by the same company. He was an avid hunter and farmer and he found great pleasure in tinkering with his old red truck and fixing whatever he saw that needed a little mending. He was united in marriage to Mildred Blackburn on March 23, 1960, blending their two families into one. Their union was further blessed with three girls affectionately called “Bubba’s Girls”. He is survived by his son Billy (Glenda) Walker, McDonough, GA; three daughters Jewel McCoy, Amite, LA, Leatrice Reid and Gloria (Ronald) Williams, both of Independence, LA; bonus sons, Fezell (Helen) Ard, Portland, Oregon, Phillip Ard, Amite, LA and Jimmie Ard, Tangipahoa, LA; bonus daughter, Ethel (Sidney) Smith, Amite, LA; brothers, Willie (Essie) Burkhalter, Los Angeles, CA , Leroy (Dorthy) Burkhalter, Franklinton, LA, Curtis (Mary) Burkhalter, Roseland, LA and Allen (Sandra) Burkhalter, Mt. Hermon, LA; sisters, Augustine White, Cincinnati, OH, Georgia Bickham, Franklinton, LA, Gwendolyn Dyson, Los Angeles, CA and Tammie Burkhalter, Bogalusa, LA; stepbrothers, Kelly Norman, Franklinton, LA and Edward (Deborah) Norman, Mt. Hermon, LA; stepsisters, Ola (Richard) MaGee, Franklinton, LA and Katherine Norman Gibbs, Bogalusa, LA; God Children, A.J. Dyson and Enrico Warren; 19 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren and 11 great great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and his church family. He is preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Mecia Burkhalter; father and mother-in-law, Belmer and Leolia Blackburn; bonus son, Tommy Ray McKay, Sr.; grandsons, Darin Burkhalter and Tommy Ray McKay, Jr., granddaughter, Quinice West; sisters, Dorothy Briggs, Carol Bell and Judy Burkhalter; stepbrothers, Michael Norman, Jessie Norman, David Norman and Leroy Norman; stepsister, Delores Norman.

Mr. Weston Burkhalter

July 7, 1935 - August 15, 2023