Sammie Lee Burton (Lansing)

Mr. Sammie Lee Burton passed away Friday, August 26, 2022, at Sparrow Health Systems in Lansing, Michigan. Age 75 years. Sammie  (best known as Sam) was born June 20, 1947, in Dixonville, Tennessee to Sim and Katherine Burton. He was the fourth of eight children.

Sam attended and graduated from George R. Ellis School in Munford, Tennessee. Following graduation, as all his siblings had done, Sam moved to Lansing, Michigan in search of a better way of life. After working several different jobs in Lansing, he was hired at General Motors Corporation-Oldsmobile Division where he remained as a supervisor for 35 years.

In 1982, Sam met and fell in love with Patricia Owens. They were married for more than thirty years.

Sam had a great love for many things, such as car racing, boxing, football and golfing with his son, Dewayne and daughter, Sherrie. However, his greatest love was people. Yes, he loved his family dearly, but his compassion and love for others extended well beyond family. After he moved to Lansing, other friends and relatives moved here with nowhere to stay, and it was Sam who helped them get up on their feet by providing them with a place to stay. It was that same love that led him and Patricia to often foster-care children, some of whom they adopted. Giving back to those less fortunate gave Sam so much joy.

He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Patricia Owens-Burton; children, Dewayne Burton, Halbert (Amie) Taylor, Margaret Burton, Shannon (Derrick) Holder-Lewis, Sherrie (Marlon) Fairweather, Sheryl (Mike) Ludwick, Patricia Renee Owens, Dequan Jones, Victoria Owens, and  Kaveon Butler, all of Lansing; 18 grandchildren; special grandchild, Shie Burton;  siblings, Ruby Hester, Sim (Minnie) Burton, Mary (John) Porter, Calvin (Annette) Burton, Daurice (Robert) Torry, and Maurice Burton; parents-in-love, Anniebell and Willie Campbell; sisters-in-love, Cynthia (David) Jones, Lisa Brandon-Hammonds, Subrina Jones, Janet Owens; brother-in-love, Gifford Owens; many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends including 3 special friends, Curtis Lewis, Jessie Brown, and Oliver Grant Webb.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, William E. Burton.