Earnest Johnson Burden Jr.

Earnest Johnson Burden Jr., affectionately called "Sporty" by all who knew and loved him was born June 14, 1949 to the union of Earnest Johnson Burden Sr., and Earlean Berniece Gwinn Burden.

He died Thursday Nov. 14, 2019 after many years of failing heath. Baptized at Springfield A.M.E. Zion Church, he remained a faithful and devoted member until his health failed.

Mr. Burden was a 1969 graduate of Clarke County Training School in Coffeeville, Sporty touched many lives. He would hold a conversation with anyone. Compassionate, he was known as a friend to the many he met. He loved children and was surrounded by all of his nephews and nieces in playful antics. Although in failing health, Sporty lived life to the fullest with the unfailing care and devotion of his baby sister Gwen. He was independent and resilient through all the  medical challenges he faced. God's amazing grace surely sustained him.

Preceding him in death are his parents; maternal grandparents, Owen Gwinn and Melvina Gwinn Clark; paternal grandparents, Earnest Burden and Mary Ann Burden; sister, Mattie Bernice Burden; grandson, Johnathan Arnold Jr.; and the mother of his daughter, Elder Geneva Louvenia Burden.

His memory will be forever cherished by his daughter, LaVeda Arnold of Stockbridge, GA.; brothers, Samuel Dell (Nancy) Burden of Houston, Texas, Charles Owen (Sandra) Burden Sr. of Crestview, Florida, and Randall Eugene (Varice) Burden of LaGrange, GA.; sisters, Earnestine (Griffin) Turner of Chester, PA., Mary Adell (M, Samuel Sr.) Daffin of Houston, Texas, Shirley Diana Burden and Deidra Darcell Burden, both of Jackson, Irma Cassandra Burden of Harvest and Gwendolyn LaFaye (Samuel) Montgomery of Saltipa; three grandchildren, Sabrina, Lauren and Kadafi. Sporty was loved and also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

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