Isaiah McKinley Burrell Jr.

BURRELL, Isaiah McKinley, Jr. age 89, died peacefully on Monday, Nov. 29, 2010 at his home in Cherry Hill, NJ surrounded by family and friends. He was born to Isaiah M. Sr. and Emma Cook Burrell on December 6, 1920 in Williamsburg, Virginia. His life was a journey of service to family, friends, and community that will be remembered by all those whose lives he touched. Ken, as he was called by his family and friends, came to New Jersey when a child and attended the Camden Elementary and Secondary Public Schools. Ken was an amateur champion boxer, nicknamed "Ken 'Tap Dancer' Burrell," a disabled Veteran honorably serving in the United States Army from 1942 through 1944; a graduate of Rutgers University in 1954; and subsequently attended Temple University Law School for one year. On September 18, 1948, Ken was joined in holy matrimony with Mary Rosellen Edmonds at Kaighn Avenue Baptist Church. Since early childhood, Ken's aspirations focused upon becoming a "good, respected businessman." A former teacher, he gave up teaching in 1960 to begin Burrell Real Estate. An indefatigable worker, Ken operated his business with Fairness, Honesty, and Integrity." Although he had not obtained all that he desired he was thankful for the progress he achieved, for he had Burrell Real Estate offices in Camden and Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Ken was a member of Kaighn Avenue Baptist Church; Past President of the Cherry Hill (The Mall) Lions Club; a member of Rho Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity; the New Jersey Board of Realtors; Camden County Board of Realtors; The Multiple Listing Service; Camden County Chamber of Commerce; National Institute of Real Estate Brokers; and the Salvation Army. He received many commendations including, but not limited to, The City of Camden Department of Community Services 1994 Black History Month Image Award, and The Board of Freeholders of Camden County. Ken vehemently opposed discrimination in any form and battled against it wherever and whenever he encountered it. One of his cases involving housing discrimination has been recorded in the Congressional Record, and is cited throughout the country. In 1948 Ken joined the Camden County Branch of NAACP. The following year, he and his wife, Mary, were elected to the Branch's Board of Directors. He also served as a Vice President and Housing Chairman for the Camden Branch of the NAACP. To have known Ken Burrell was to respect him, for his achievements were earned "the old fashioned way" as a result of hard work. Ken was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary and son, McKinley (Kenny). He leaves to mourn: one grandson, McKinley Anton Burrell; two granddaughters, Songtarae Fields and Christell Burrell; three great grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Grace Burrell; "adopted daughter" and long time assistant, Juanita Vera; three sisters, Sarah, Jeanette Worley, Clara Jane Spencer, and Frances B. Payne; one brother, Allen C. Burrell; one brother-in-law, Charles Spencer; a host of nieces and nephews, relatives and friends. Services will be held Monday, Dec. 6, 2010 at 11:00am in the Kaighn Ave. Baptist Church, 9th and Kaign Ave., Camden NJ. Interment immediately following at Sunset Memorial Park, Pennsauken, NJ. Friends will be received at the church Monday, Dec. 6, 2010, from 9:00am to 10:30am. Funeral services are under the direction of Stanley's Memorial Chapel, Inc., Camden, NJ. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in the name of Isaiah McKinley Burrell Jr. to Samaritan Hospice, 5 Eves Drive, Suite 300, Marlton, NJ 08053-9841.