Bishop Walter Burton

Bishop Walter Burton, 59, of 1027 Fifth St., Statesville, died Monday, Jan. 22, 2007, at his residence. He was born in Iredell County, March 4, 1947, and was the son of the late Alonzo Burton Sr. and Sarah Mae Summers Burton. Mr. Burton was married to Mildred Gaye Burton, who preceded him in death, and later married Mary Reddick Ellis Burton, who survives. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Thurman Burton and Mark Burton. He attended Morningside High School. Bishop Burton served in the ministry for 41 years. He was ordained into the ministry in 1965, by Bishop Clarence Minor, pastor of Mt. Calvary Holiness Church, after which he served as the assistant pastor from 1966 to 1983. He was also the presiding minister of the Young Peoples Holiness Training Union, (YPHTU). Bishop Burton was the founder and pastor of New Freedom Apostolic Holiness Church for 23 years. In addition to his wife, Mary Burton, survivors include three sons, Thomas D. Burton of Hickory, Ashley Ellis and Thomas (Tamara) Ellis , both of Salisbury; two spiritual sons, Corey Rhoney and Kenneth (Penny) Daye, both of Statesville; four daughters, Surtonia Burton of Washington, D.C., Chandra Burton and Dyrita Ellis, both of Statesville, and Eva Slaton of High Point; a god-daughter, Latina Mack of Troutman; five brothers, Ray (Edith) Hardy, Alonzo (Evelyn) Burton Jr., Howard D. Burton, and Spencer Burton, all of Statesville, and William Burton of Pittsburgh, Pa.; four sisters, Sarah Smith, Margaret Allison, and Hazel (Samuel) Young, all of Statesville, and Betty Burton of Charlotte; 11 grandchildren, Charavia Ellis, Deosha Stinson, DaQuon Ellis, Olivia Stinson, Alyric Ellis, DeAzia Ellis, and Caleb Burton-Ellis, all of Statesville, Kevin Connor and A'veyon Ellis, both of Salisbury, TiTeon Burton of Concord, and Da'Mari Burton of Hickory; a spiritual granddaughter, Cor'Alizuh Bradshaw of Statesville; his father-in-law, William Miller of Cleveland; his mother-in-law, Mary Miller of Cleveland; three brothers-in-law, John (Teresa) Reddick of High Point, James (Jean) Reddick of Alexandria, Va., and Anthony Reddick of Statesville; six sisters-in-law, Diane Reddick, Charlette Harrell, Margaret Houge, Teresa Smith, Lillian Reddick, and Priscilla (Willie) Watson, all of Statesville; an aunt, Ida Summers of Statesville; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends, including special friends, Barry (Margaret) Warren, William Satterfield, Dr. Bishop W.C. Miller, Evangelist Carol Miller and Willie (Patricia) English, and caregivers at Hospice of Iredell County, Infusion Care, and Dr. Michael Serwint and staff. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at Christian Outreach of the Piedmont. Pastor Glenn Usry and Dr. Bishop W.C. Miller will officiate, and burial will follow in the Belmont Cemetery. The body will remain at the funeral home where members of the family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. They will assemble at the residence at other times. Notes of sympathy may be e-mailed to the Burton family to rutledgeinc@bellsouth.net. Rutledge & Bigham Funeral Home is serving the family.