Wondering why the flags were at half-staff at the state capitol, in Etowah County, in DeKalb County and in Gadsden?
It’s because former State Representative and lifelong advocate Ralph Burke died July 3 at age 65.
The many loves of Ralph Burke. Who can count them?
His lifetime with his wife, Joy, and family was truly a joy.
He loved his birth town of Rainsville and Sand Mountain.
“I value the lessons learned from my parents who were a part of ‘The Greatest Generation.’ My Mother taught me to leave the community better than I found it. Dad was a community builder and he left his mark in Rainsville, Alabama, where he and Mom raised my sister, two brothers and me,” Burke once said.
He loved his alma mater, Jacksonville State University. He earned multiple degrees at Jax State and later headed the Gadsden JSU office from 1998 to 2016.
“Ralph Burke dedicated his life to making Northeast Alabama a better place,” said Jacksonville State president Dr. Don C. Killingsworth, Jr. “He was a proud alumnus and passionate advocate for education, not just at Jax State but across our entire region. More than that, Ralph was a friend to everyone he met. He will be remembered for his warm heart, generous spirit, and unwavering commitment to the communities he served.”
He loved music. Many friends did not know that he formed, sang and toured in a gospel music group, “Inheritance.” He had recorded a long playlist of favorite songs that he would play for his wife Joy as they drove around northeast Alabama. He sang in the choir at Meadowbrook Church. He served on the board of directors of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
He loved DeKalb County, where he started as a teacher at Valley Head High School. He then represented them in the State House from 1983 to 1998, starting at age 23 as the youngest legislator.
He loved his adopted Etowah County, where he led Leadership Etowah and chaired the Etowah County Mega Sports Complex.
Those who attended the services for Ralph Burke on July 10 likely learned things about their friend that they had not previously known.
Here’s something most did not know: Ralph Burke served as pastor of Union Hill Baptist Church in the Fischer community on Lookout Mountain in the 1980s. He could have preached his own funeral—and sung.
The many lives of Ralph Burke.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler’s beat is the colorful and positive about Alabama -- her people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].
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