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APRIL 22ND
Vol 20, No. 12 • April 2021
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Coming to the big screen: Corinth’s own Judy Burley By Lucy Weber Judy McGee Burley’s hometown may be Corinth but she’s in her glory in the Kingdom of Zamunda in the movie “Coming to America 2.” With her signature hairdo, Zamundan royal attire, and bright smile, Burley graces the scene of the drummers entering the court of Prince Akeem, played by Eddie Murphy, in the hit movie “Coming to America 2.” In a two-second scene, Burley, a veteran background actor, can be seen in the movie now showing on Amazon Prime. “It was such a pleasure to have worked with such a talented, diverse group of actors during this Covid era,” said Burley. The resident of Atlanta didn’t have to travel far to play her role in the movie featuring Wesley Snipes, Arsenio Hall and other A-listers that was filmed at Tyler Perry studios, also in Atlanta. “I made it to the Royal Palace. We had so much fun on this set,” she said. Burley was drawn to acting and directing in the Drama Club of Easom High School, where she graduated in 1968. “I got a taste for acting as a member of the drama club in high school. I also worked as director and actor of our drama club plays.” Aside from acting, Burley loved music and represented the Easom High choir as a mezzo-soprano, along with playing the clarinet and saxophone in the concert and marching bands. She began singing in the Macedonia Baptist Church choir at a young age. "Music was something I gravitated to. From my time playing music, I began to create and write songs and poems when I was quite young." Burley's poem titled "The Love of Family," was published in 2013 and is in the Library of Congress. Those high school years were also busy as Burley taught Bible Judy McGee Burley Study Classes, earned a 3.5 GPA, Return Address: P.O. Box 1292 Corinth, MS 38835
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was chosen Miss Science Club Queen and served as editor of Easom High's newspaper. After high school, Burley received a music scholarship from Jackson State University
where she graduated in 1974 with a bachelor of science degree in Business Administration with a minor in music. She’s stayed just as busy since graduation in her career, family life and her work as an actress. In Atlanta Burley is a member of the Colorful Backgrounders Group and has worked on numerous projects, appearing more than 100 times in TV shows, films and 11 Commercials. To name a few of them, she’s been in the movies “Selma,” and “One Night in Miami,” “2Pac All Eyez on Me,” “NCIS,” “Navy Seals,” “Saints and Sinners,” “The Quad” on BET, and on the Oprah Winfrey Network, “Queen Sugar,” Greenleaf,” and “Ambition.” Her first time on TV featured her singing with Anne Nesby and the Praise Team on the Rickey Smiley Show. Burley worked for the federal government for 22 years and six years as a certified housing counselor for the Urban League of Greater Atlanta before returning to her love of acting. “In Atlanta, I studied acting at the Alliance Theatre where my passion grew again for one of my first loves", Burley said. "My ultimate goal has always been to be a move producer, director and writer.” "I'm proud to be a hometown girl of Corinth and to represent and give Hollywood just a little taste of Corinth and of Mississippi,” said Burley, who won the Best Actress in TV Movies or Series from the Colorful Background Group in Atlanta, in February 2015. Burley’s advice is to follow a purpose-driven life, no matter your age or disability, and “to stay encouraged and never give up.” Her biggest supporters throughout her film career are her four children, Lechand, Colette, Jukenya, and Jabari. Burley is also the aunt of Mary Woods, great aunt of Angela Wood-Hill and has relatives throughout Mississippi, Tennessee, Illinois and Louisiana.