Philip Burke Booklet

May 4,1954 - September 13, 2020

To my Loving Husband!

From the first time you met me at the bus stop on your bicycle, we’ve been together. The days we spent loving one another and growing together became months, and the months became years.

You were always my protector, making sure that everything was secure. You were full of jokes, filling our home with joy and laughter. And you always made it a top priority to provide for me and our daughters.

Marriages don’t last as long as ours did without some challenges. However, during our fortyseven years together, God was always there and our commitment to one another never wavered. There were so many times that you told me that you wouldn’t have made it if it weren’t for God and my prayers for you.

Yes, I prayed for you, Phil. And anything that you needed, I would do for you.

Over the last few years, I’ve loved watching you buy miniature, authentic Chicago Police cars and give them out to children standing at the bus stop or dining in a restaurant. You would ask their parents if you could give their child a car, and “yes” was always the answer. The children’s eyes would always light up with excitement. Those are moments that I’ll never forget because they showed what I’ve always loved about you: You were a strong man with a tender heart.

Even now, I can hear your voice saying to me, “I love you, boo!” (My Beautiful. Only. One.) Forever my love, Dianne

Daddy, No amount of words could fully articulate the influence you had on my life.

As a little girl, I looked up to you for being a police officer. I would often brag to my friends about it because not only was it heroic, it was cool. And you were always the epitome of cool.

FAMILY TRIBUTES

From your love of cars (which I also share) and motorcycles, you lived life in the fast lane. Remember when you would pick me up from elementary school on the motorcycle or sneak me out in the middle of the night for late night rides? (Sorry, mama.) Your obsession with music also rubbed off on me—whether it was from the music you played nonstop on our rides to school or the old and new artists you exposed me to through your record and CD collection. I am a self-proclaimed music snob, thanks to you.

Most of all, I am grateful for how you provided for our family. Your love was always shown to us by your acts of giving—from the cars you purchased for us to the random times you slid money in my hands. You always seemed to show up and provide at the times when I needed it most. I’ll never forget what you did when I was on assignment in London. You immediately made sure that you, mama, and Brittany got passports and came to visit me for a week. I didn’t know many people there, so that visit was all that I needed and more.

Thank you for showing me how to take care of the people I love and for leaving me with so many funny and fond memories. I’ll continue to work on evoking your sense of “cool”. You will forever remain in my heart.

I love you, Daddy.

Nikia Daddie, You really hurt me with this one.

It’s so hard to even find the right words. But the one thing that I must say is that you were a provider in every sense of the word. You made sure mama, Kia, and I had everything we needed, plus more. And your love and care went beyond us; you looked out for anyone you cared about. You really held us all down, Daddie.

There are so many things about you that I’ll miss. I’m going to miss the jokes, the laughs, the two-minute phone calls (if you know, you know), and you getting on mama about paying me whenever I did her hair (who’s going to do that now?). I’m going to miss you calling me Pooh Pooh and me calling you Cookie Man. And Bruno is going to miss you feeding him all of that good food. I’m just going to miss you in general!

Keep watching over me, Daddie. I swear that I can feel your presence.

Love you always, Brittany aka Pooh Pooh

Dear Papa, Thank you for buying me Mambas and Toy Cars each time I came over to your and G-ma’s house and for giving me fist bumps too. I have a full collection of all the cars you have given me and I will cherish them for LIFE. I will miss you, Love MJ

LIFE REFLECTIONS OF

P

hilip Lewis Burke began his life’s journey in Chicago, Illinois, on May 4, 1954. He was born to William and Rebecca (née Lewis) Burke, becoming the third of four children and the youngest boy born to this union.

As a child, he was given the nickname “Cookie Man,” which stuck with him throughout his entire life. Many people in his family—especially his beloved nieces and nephews—affectionally called him “Uncle Philip.”

Philip was a lifelong Chicagoan. In 1971, he and his family moved to Avalon Park on Chicago’s Southeast Side. It wasn’t too long after that he first connected with Dianne, the girl who would one day become his wife.

While riding his bicycle down Stony Island near 84th Street, he spotted her getting off the bus on her way home from school and made a move.

He stopped her at the bus stop and asked if he could ride with her as she walked home. The two of them wound up talking all the way to her parents’ house. And every day after, he met her at that bus stop to escort her home. The couple got married on July 14, 1973; they were blessed to spend 47 years together. From their enduring love came two of their greatest gifts—their beautiful children, Nikia and Brittany.

Philip took great pride in providing for his family. After graduating from Bowen High School in 1972, he worked as a warehouse worker at the local distribution center for Walgreens and for the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.

On March 1, 1982, he achieved a long-held dream when he joined the Chicago Police Department as a police officer. He was assigned to the 3rd District, which serves the communities of South Shore, Woodlawn, Park Manor, and Grand Crossing. He was committed to his career. In fact, during his 31 years on the city’s police force, he received several awards, including the Presidential Election Deployment Award (2008), the Crime Reduction Award (2009), and the NATO Summit Service Award (2012).

Philip was the type of man that made sure things were in order. From the crease in his pants to the polish on his shoes, he was always dressed to a tee. And he completed every look with pieces from his carefully curated jewelry collection and his favorite cologne. Anyone who knew him could speak to Philip’s passion for motorcycles and cars, especially his 1978 red Corvette. He also loved to BBQ. Even on a little grill, he made it work. He had a music collection that few people could amass, and he always seemed to know just the right record to play. And although he was a man of few words, he had the type of presence that could be felt even when he was sitting in a room filled with people.

Philip touched many lives. He had a loving heart and genuine spirit that put anyone he met at ease. If he could help someone, he would do it without hesitation. On Sundays, you could find him outside of Christ Temple Missionary Baptist Church, watching the cars. All the neighbors that lived on his block knew him, and they

trusted him to look out for them.

He spent his entire life dedicated to taking care of his wife, children, and entire family. Even in his last days, he continued calling his wife every night to ask her if she had locked the doors, turned on the porch light, and set the alarm. He even went as far as telling one of his nurses, “She’s the reverend, but I’m the police.”

Above all, Philip was a public servant, loving husband and father, protector, and provider.

Philip peacefully made his transition on September 13, 2020, at the age of 66. He leaves to cherish his memory: his loving wife, Dianne Burke (née Taylor); his daughters, Nikia (Melvin II) Jefferson and Brittany Burke; his grandson, Melvin Jefferson III; his baby sister, Cynthia Hopkins; his brothers-in-love, Henry Taylor and Eldridge (Denise) Taylor, and sisters-in-love, Bettie (Larry) Page, Levesta Taylor, and Regina TaylorSligh; his dear cousin, Adrian (Tracy) Burke Smith; seven nieces and four nephews; and countless grandnieces and grandnephews, cousins, in-laws, family, friends, and loved ones whom were all blessed to have known him. He was preceded in death by his parents; his older siblings, William “Billy” Burke and Judith Sconyers; his sisterin-love, Henrietta Burke (née Taylor); Muffin, a community cat that he had unofficially adopted; and numerous aunts, uncles, other relatives, and friends whom he loved dearly.

Order of Service Saturday, October 3, 2020

Wake - 10:00 a.m.

Chicago Police St. Jude League - 10:45 a.m.

Service - 11:00 a.m.

Christ Temple Missionary Baptist Church 41 W. 95th Street Chicago, IL 60628 Officiant, Pastor Eldridge Taylor Musical Prelude & Processional..................................................................................................................................................

Prayer.......................................................................................................................................................Evangelist Linda Bishop Scripture Reading...................................................................................................................................Minister Margie Mayes Prayer...........................................................................................................................................Evangelist Cassandra Williams Solo........................................................................................................................................................................Lakisha Sanders Acknowledgements & Resolutions......................................................................................................................Amber Taylor Reflections...............................................................................................................................................................Levesta Taylor Sherry Toney Stephen Porter Betty Gibson Obituary...........................................................................................................................................................................................

Solo.....................................................................................................................................................Evangelist Chrysann Moore Eulogy...........................................................................................................................................................Pastor Dianne Burke (wife of Philip Burke) Final Viewing...................................................................................................................................................................................

Benediction......................................................................................................................................................................................

Recessional.......................................................................................................................................................................................

Internment Lincoln Cemetery 12300 S. Kedzie Avenue Blue Island, IL 60406

FLOWER BEARERS Robyn Gray Kalianna Taylor Misty Sconyers Deidra Page

PALLBEARERS

Derrick Page Melvin Jefferson II Stephen Porter Tom Gray Justin Toney Ricky Page

HONORARY PALLBEARERS

Deacon Alfred Taylor Jason Sconyers Nathaniel Sligh Reginald Sligh Alex Mayes

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The family of Philip Lewis Burke would like to thank you for the cards, flowers, calls, texts, and kind expressions of sympathy shown during this time. Your support and love is very much appreciated and has been a great comfort to our family.

We would like to offer special thanks to his longtime primary physician, Dr. Linus Ema; Nurse Kristen Drozky, Nurse Abby Rodriguez and all of the staff at Advocate Christ Hospital; and Gabriel Charles Tyler.