Find A Grave - Burr Oak Cemetery

Acklin, Barbara b. February 28, 1943 d. November 27, 1998
Singer, Songwriter. She had several hit songs during the 1960s and 1970s, including "Love Makes a Woman", "Just Ain't No Love", "Am I the Same Girl", and "I Bake Me a Man". She also co-wrote the 1971 hit single "Have You Seen Her" for the Chi-Lites and "Whispers Gettin' Louder" for singer Jackie Wilson. She died of pneumonia.
Burr Oak Cemetery, Alsip, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Ali, Noble Drew b. 1886 d. 1929
Religious Leader. The founder of Moorish Science Temple of America, he was born Timothy Drew in North Carolina. Adopted into the Cherokee Tribe, he worked as a circus magician, then traveled to Egypt where he studied under a priest who recognized him as a "prophet." He established his first temple in Newark, New Jersey in 1913. His Chicago temple was called the Moorish Science Temple of America. Ali taught that blacks are Moabites or Moors, for whom the promised land is Morocco. He died after...[Read More] (Bio by: David M. Habben)
Burr Oak Cemetery, Alsip, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Arnold, James Kokomo b. February 15, 1901 d. November 8, 1968
James "Kokomo" Arnold, often described as being one of the greatest bluesmen to come about in the period following the Great Depression, was born in the town of Lovejoy, Georgia. As a young man, he left the south and settled in Buffalo, New York where he began playing local venues. In 1929, Arnold settled in Chicago, Illinois and was soon recording for the Victor Record label and then later for Decca Records. He toured extensively during the 1930's as a blues guitarist, making numerous...[Read More] (Bio by: Adam Maroney)
Burr Oak Cemetery, Alsip, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Bigham, Lexie b. August 4, 1968 d. December 17, 1995
Actor. Born Lexie Darnell Bigham Jr. in Illinois, he appeared in numerous independent films and television series. He had prominent roles in feature films such as "Boyz in the Hood" (1991), "South Central" (1992), "Airheads" (1994), "Se7en" (1995) and "Up Close & Personal" (1996). His TV credits include "China Beach", "LA Law" and "Saved by the Bell: The New Class". He died in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 27. (Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith)
Cause of death: Car accident
Burr Oak Cemetery, Alsip, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Plot: Lot 171, Grave 1A
Burley, Daniel Gardner b. November 7, 1907 d. October 28, 1962
Journalist, Musician, Activist. The life of Dan Burley touched on a variety of aspects of 20th century America. Born in Kentucky, the son of a preacher. His father died at a young age and Burley's mother moved the family to Chicago in 1915 after remarrying. Burley became a newspaper boy for the Chicago Daily Defender, and learned Boogie Woogie Piano playing while attending Wendell Phillips High School with classmates Lionell Hampton and Louis Jordan. He was also editor of the school newspaper...[Read More] (Bio by: Don M)
Burr Oak Cemetery, Alsip, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Plot: Elmgrove, Lot 155, Grave 1
Charles, Ezzard Mack b. July 7, 1921 d. May 28, 1975
Professional Boxer. Started out undefeated in 42 amateur fights as a welterweight and middleweight. He became a professional shortly after winning the AAU national middleweight title in 1939 and he won 20 consecutive pro fights before losing a 10-round decision to former middleweight champion Ken Overlin on June 9, 1941. He served in the Army during 1944 and 1945 and began fighting as a light heavyweight after World War II. Charles had three victories, one a knockout, over future champion...[Read More] (Bio by: Ggg Ddd)
Burr Oak Cemetery, Alsip, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Collins, Cardiss b. September 24, 1931 d. February 3, 2013
US Congresswoman. A member of the Democratic Party, she served Illinois' 7th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives from 1973 until 1997. Born Cardiss Hortense Robertson, she was raised in Detroit and attended Northwestern University. She held such occupations as secretary, accountant and auditor for Illinois' Department of Revenue, prior to launching her political career as a committeewoman in Chicago. Following the death of her husband US Congressman George...[Read More] (Bio by: C.S.)
Burr Oak Cemetery, Alsip, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Collins, George Washington b. March 5, 1925 d. December 8, 1972
US Congressman. Elected to represent Illinois's 6th District in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1970 to his death in 1972. He was killed in a plane crash at the Midway Airport, in Chicago, Illinois, on December 8, 1972. (Bio by: K)
Burr Oak Cemetery, Alsip, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Crutchfield, Jimmie 'The Colonel' b. May 15, 1910 d. May 31, 1993
Negro League Baseball player. Began his career with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1930 as an Outfielder. Through his fifteen year career he played for the Pittsburgh Crawfords, Indianapolis ABCs, Newark Eagles, Philadelphia Stars Toledo Crawfords, Chicago American Giants and Cleveland Buckeyes. While with the Pittsburgh Crawfords he earned three trips to the East-West All-Star game. In addition impressive RBI totals he always maintained a respectable batting average near .300 throughout his...[Read More] (Bio by: Graveaddiction)
Burr Oak Cemetery, Alsip, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Dixon, Willie James b. July 1, 1915 d. January 29, 1992
Legendary Blues Musician and Songwriter. Born the seventh of fourteen children, his greatest influence was his mother, who turned everything she said into rhymes and he learned to do the same. At the age of seventeen, he left his hometown for Chicago to become a boxer. One year later he was named the Illinois State Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion. Although he had success as a boxer, because of a money disputes he gave up being a pro boxer. He began his musical career in 1940 with Leonard "...[Read More] (Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith)
Cause of death: Hepatitis
Burr Oak Cemetery, Alsip, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Plot: Acacia Lawn, Lot 18, Grave 1, Right by the road. Look for willow trees
Donaldson, John Wesley b. February 20, 1892 d. April 12, 1970
Negro League Baseball Player. One of the top lefthanders in Negro League history, he threw three consecutive no-hitters in 1913. He played for the Tennessee Rats, All Nations, Gilkerson's Union Giants, Chicago Giants, Indianapolis ABCs, Brooklyn Royal Giants, New York Lincoln Giants, Detroit Stars, Kansas City Monarchs, John Donaldson All-Stars, Bertha Fisherman, Lismore Gophers, Melrose Legion All-Stars, Saint Cloud Saints, and Moose Jaw Canada. (Bio by: Graveaddiction)
Burr Oak Cemetery, Alsip, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Plot: Section 7, Lot 1, Row 17, Grave 97
Favors, Malachi b. August 22, 1937 d. January 30, 2004
Jazz Musician. A bassist, he played with the avant-garde Art Ensemble of Chicago. He studied with bassists including Wilbur Ware and played with be-bop leader trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. He later became interested in the free-jazz movement and played with saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell on his influential 1966 album "Sound.". His most notable albums are "A Jackson in Your House" and "Urban Bushmen�. (Bio by: Butterfly)
Burr Oak Cemetery, Alsip, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Jackson, Inman b. March 7, 1907 d. April, 1973
Harlem Globetrotter. Jackson was a high school star at Chicago's Wendal Phillips High. During his career as a player with the Globetrotters, 1929-43, he played center and was a member of the 1940 World Champion unit. He was an early innovator of the "Magic Circle" & the pivot in the weave. After his playing days, Jackson continued to work with the Globetrotter organization in some capacity until his death. (Bio by: Warrick L. Barrett)
Burr Oak Cemetery, Alsip, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Spann, Otis b. March 21, 1930 d. April 25, 1970
Musician. Born in Jackson, Mississippi, he was regarded as one of the most solid bottom blues piano players of his day. In 1946, he relocated to Chicago and became an integral member of the Muddy Waters band. Spann played on most of Waters' classic Chess recordings between 1953 and 1969, to include "Got My Mojo Working", "Hoochie Coochie Man", "I'm Ready" and "Just Make Love to Me". He also recorded with artist B.B. King, Eric Clapton, James Cotton and Fleetwood Mac. His solo work included the...[Read More] (Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith)
Cause of death: Cancer
Burr Oak Cemetery, Alsip, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Taylor, James Allen b. February 1, 1884 d. April 3, 1948
Professional Baseball Player and Manager. Also known as 'Candy Jim Taylor. He managed three Negro National League teams to pennants: the 1928 St. Louis Stars, and the 1943 and 1944 Homestead Grays. (Bio by: Graveaddiction)
Burr Oak Cemetery, Alsip, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Till, Emmett Louis b. July 25, 1941 d. August 28, 1955
Murder Victim, Civil Rights Figure. Many historians feel he inadvertently started the American civil rights movement. His story is chronicled in the PBS award-winning documentary series,"Eyes on the Prize." While visiting relatives in Mississippi, this young black Chicagoan, not understanding the profundity of racism there, accepted a dare to address an attractive white woman in a grocery store. He went in, bought some candy, and on the way out allegedly said "bye, baby." One observer claimed...[Read More]
Burr Oak Cemetery, Alsip, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Till Mobley, Mamie b. November 23, 1921 d. January 6, 2003
Noted Civil Rights Figure. The widowed mother of Chicago youth Emmitt Till, who courageously wanted the world to know the circumstances and results of her sons racially motivated 1955 murder by two white Mississippi men. Mamie Till was at first denied the right to visually identify her son?s body by a mortician who was under order by law enforcement officials not open his casket, however she insisted and was allowed to open the casket. In her grief, she transported Emmitt Till's body back home...[Read More] (Bio by: SJ Monnette)
Burr Oak Cemetery, Alsip, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Washington (Jones), Dinah (Ruth Lee) b. August 29, 1924 d. December 14, 1963
Legendary singer. Nicknamed "Queen of the Blues." Ruth Lee Jones was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Her family moved to Chicago three years later. She started her musical career singing gospel and playing piano in the church choir. After seeing Billie Holiday perform, she was influenced to start singing the blues and thereafter performed in local clubs, where local musicians dubbed her "Queen of the Blues." At age 18, she was discovered by Lionel Hampton and was hired to front his band. It is...[Read More] (Bio by: countedx58)
Cause of death: Drug overdose
Burr Oak Cemetery, Alsip, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Whitfield, LeRoy b. September 19, 1969 d. October 9, 2005
Journalist and Writer. He was born in Chicago and died in Harlem. He used a magazine column to chronicle the everyday struggles of people with H.I.V. He moved to New York in 2000, where he became one of the nation's leading journalists reporting on AIDS among African-Americans. He had written a column titled "Native Tongue" since May 2004 in HIV Plus, a national magazine distributed at doctors' offices and organizations offering services for people with AIDS. The magazine's editor, Michael W. E...[Read More] (Bio by: Jos� L Bernab� Tronchoni)
Burr Oak Cemetery, Alsip, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Plot: Locust Lane, Plot 7

19 records found