Cleavleand Burton Sr.

CLEAVLEAND BURTON was born on November 16, 1944, in Aiken of Edgefield County, South Carolina to the late Joseph and Clara Burton.

Cle was the 4th son out of 8 boys and 4 girls. The family moved from Edgefield County, South Carolina to Baltimore, Maryland in 1956, for a better way of life. In August 1963, Cleavleand a.k.a. "Cle" graduated from Baltimore City College.

Before Cle, was drafted into the United States Army in April 1966, he met and fell in love with Elizabeth Byers. Cle successfully completed his term in April 16968. In 1974, Cle and Elizabeth were married and have been married for 47 beautiful years.

Cle always had a strong interest and ambition of driving trucks and obtaining his CDL'S. Whereas, he received his CDL'S in 1978 from North American Training Academy. Cle was employed at Allied Transportation for over 30 years and then 6 years at First Transit after he retired.

Cle often stated that his work in the church was his delight through the years. He was an active member and leader of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, where he served in many capacities. He was an Usher, Trustee, Director of the Usher Ministry and in charge of the Transportation Ministry as well a driver.

Our beloved brother, affectionately called his loved ones "Bubba" and has been a huge influence on all of our lives. Cle was the life of the party and loved dancing, playing cards, baseball, football-especially the Baltimore Ravens, boxing most importantly family gatherings. Cle instilled in all of us love and respect for each other. He always put family first and ensured that we did the same.

Everyone that had the pleasure of meeting Cle, even if only once, could never tell if you had known him for 5 minutes or 5 years because he loved and treated everyone the same. He was preceded in death by five siblings, Benjamin, Ernest, Haymond, Maggie, Henry and Grace; brother-in-law, Carroll brown and mother-in-law Bertha Mae.  

He leaves to cherish his memory: devoted wife, Elizabeth Burton; daughters, Careatha Burton and Clevonya Young; sons, Cleavleand "C.J" Burton, Jr.  (Chandra), Joseph Burton and Antoine Stewart; siblings, Robert Burton, James Burton, Edith Soden, Sylvester Burton, Sarah Burton; sister-in-law, Earline Burton; grandchildren, Kianna Young, Keith Young, Janiya Burton, Jada Burton and Bryce Burton; great-grandchildren, Jenaley Bueno, Aubrey Young and Phoenix Young; nephews, Duane Burton, Richard Burton, Edward Griffin, Vernon "B.J" Soden (Karin), Joseph Evans (Tiara), Benjamin Burton, Kevin Gaskins Jr., Purell Curbeam and Haymond Burton, Jr; nieces, LaVonya Moody, Latoya Burton and Preshus Burton and a host of great nephews, great nieces, cousins, relatives and friends.

We deeply mourn the passing of Cle, the patriarch of our family. We celebrate his life by carrying on his rich legacy of family, love, compassion and our faith in God. 

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