C E L E B R AT I N G T H E L E G A C Y O F
James Ť Ť ť AUGUST 23, 1956-DECEMBER 25, 2021
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ThisThis is the is the life life story story of Robert of Robert James James Burton Burton Jr., Jr., whowho departed departed thisthis life life on December on December 25, 25, 2021. 2021. Robert, Robert, affectionately affectionately known known as “Bobby” as “Bobby” by close by close family family andand childhood childhood friends, friends, waswas an amazing an amazing son,son, brother, brother, father, father, grandfather, grandfather, friend, friend, andand compassionate compassionate physician. physician. He He waswas a shining a shining lightlight in this in this world world andand will will be deeply be deeply missed missed by many. by many.
REMEMB
E1956, RinIN A Michigan. Robert’s Robert’s fantastic fantastic journey journey began began on August on August 23, 23, 1956, Detroit, inG Detroit, Michigan. As the As the second second child child born born to Robert to Robert James James Burton, Burton, Sr., Sr., andand Alberta Alberta Delores Delores Burton, Burton, he began he began his his formal formal schooling schooling at Roosevelt at Roosevelt Elementary Elementary School School andand University University of Detroit of Detroit Jesuit Jesuit High High School, School, where where he graduated he graduated in 1974. in 1974. As aAstrailblazer, a trailblazer, introspective introspective genius genius andand gentle gentle spirit, spirit, Robert Robert established established himself himself as an as independent an independent thinker thinker andand purveyor purveyor of ideas. of ideas. He He enlisted enlisted in the in the United United States States Marine Marine Corps Corps shortly shortly after after highhigh school school where where he proudly he proudly served served for two for two years. years. He He waswas honorably honorably discharged discharged in 1976. in 1976. Following Following his his military military service, service, Robert Robert attended attended Wayne Wayne State State University University andand Wayne Wayne State State School School of Medicine of Medicine where where he obtained he obtained his degrees his degrees in Biology in Biology andand Chemistry. Chemistry.
Ford Ford Hospital Hospital (Detroit, (Detroit, Michigan), Michigan), St. St. John John Mercy Mercy Following Following his his residencies residencies at Henry at Henry Hospital Hospital (St. (St. Louis, Louis, Missouri) Missouri) andand Virginia Virginia Mason Mason Hospital Hospital (Seattle, (Seattle, Washington), Washington), Robert Robert established established himself himself as aas Board-CertiƂed a Board-CertiƂed Anesthesiologist Anesthesiologist in Atlanta, in Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia. He enjoyed He enjoyed a a variety variety of professional of professional experiences experiences in the in the practice practice of anesthesiology. of anesthesiology. Robert Robert joined joined Southwest Southwest Community Community Hospital’s Hospital’s Westside Westside Anesthesia Anesthesia Group Group in 1990 in 1990 andand began began his his training training in Pain in Pain Management Management at the at the National National PainPain Institute Institute of Georgia of Georgia in afƂliation in afƂliation withwith TheThe Medical Medical College College of Georgia of Georgia withwith P. Prithvi P. Prithvi Raj,Raj, M.D. M.D. Shortly Shortly thereafter, thereafter, he joined he joined North North Georgia Georgia PainPain Clinic Clinic as aasStaff a Staff Anesthesiologist Anesthesiologist Algologist. Algologist. As Robert As Robert continued continued to expand to expand his practice his practice andand knowledge knowledge in this in this area, area, he was he was selected selected as aasPain a Pain Management Management consultant consultant andand lecturer lecturer for for the the National National Speakers Speakers Bureau Bureau of Johnson of Johnson & Johnson/Ortho& Johnson/OrthoMcNeil McNeil Pharmaceutical. Pharmaceutical. ThisThis forum forum allowed allowed himhim to to educate educate andand inform inform various various medical medical professionals professionals across across the the country country of the of the latest latest techniques techniques andand advancements advancements in Pain in Pain Management. Management. His His private private practice practice venture venture began began when when he and he and a few a few colleagues colleagues formed formed AxisAxis Anesthesia, Anesthesia, LLC.LLC. From From there there his his interest interest andand involvement involvement in private in private practice practice ƃourished. ƃourished. Robert’s Robert’s professional professional skill,skill, dedication, dedication, andand commitment commitment to excellence to excellence in patient in patient carecare waswas evident evident in in his his constant constant thirst thirst for for knowledge. knowledge. He He became became a leader a leader amongst amongst his his peers peers serving serving as as Anesthesia Anesthesia Medical Medical Director Director at Wellstar at Wellstar Paulding Paulding Hospital Hospital (1999-2002) (1999-2002) andand most most presently presently Precision Precision Healthcare Healthcare andand Rehab, Rehab, P.C.,P.C., andand Georgia Georgia Interventional Interventional Medicine. Medicine. In 1995 In 1995 he he found found his his comfort comfort zone zone as Partner as Partner withwith Ambulatory Ambulatory Anesthesia Anesthesia Alliance, Alliance, LLCLLC where where he he practiced practiced for over for over 20 years. 20 years. He He understood understood the the limitations limitations of western of western medicine medicine andand openly openly discussed discussed these these limitations. limitations. He He believed believed thatthat patients patients should should be treated be treated holistically holistically and,and, in in thisthis manner, manner, alsoalso opened opened a holistic a holistic health health practice, practice, Georgia Georgia Interventional Interventional Medicine. Medicine. Being Being an avid an avid businessman, businessman, Robert Robert received received an Executive an Executive MBA MBA from from Kennesaw Kennesaw State State University University in in 1999. 1999. Robert Robert supported supported various various professional professional organizations organizations andand understood understood his his responsibility responsibility to to givegive back back to his to community. his community. He He waswas a published a published author author withwith memberships memberships in the in the American American
Society Society of Anesthesiologist, of Anesthesiologist, the the American American Academy Academy of Pain of Pain Management, Management, the the American American Board Board of Pain of Pain Medicine, Medicine, the the American American Academy Academy of Medical of Medical Acupuncture, Acupuncture, andand the the Ophthalmology Ophthalmology Anesthesia Anesthesia Society. Society. His His involvement involvement in these in these organizations organizations allowed allowed himhim to to enjoy enjoy various various leadership leadership opportunities opportunities andand continuously continuously staystay abreast abreast of patient of patient carecare advancements. advancements. In addition, In addition, Robert Robert educated educated andand mentored mentored medical medical students, students, residents, residents, nurse nurse practitioners practitioners andand physician physician assistants. assistants. As As a tireless a tireless andand selƃess selƃess volunteer, volunteer, Robert Robert always always found found timetime to serve to serve andand enrich enrich the the liveslives of those of those he encountered. he encountered. His His timetime andand dedication dedication devoted devoted to the to the Covenant Covenant House House of Georgia of Georgia changed changed many many liveslives by providing by providing resources resources for for those those facing facing homelessness. homelessness. His His commitment commitment to changing to changing liveslives while while serving serving impoverished impoverished communities communities in Honduras in Honduras through through the the International International Medical Medical Relief Relief Mission Mission waswas his passion his passion for over for over 10 years. 10 years. He loved He loved the the “hands-on” “hands-on” approach approach of community of community service. service. Robert Robert waswas trulytruly gifted gifted in working in working oneone on one on one withwith the the people people whose whose liveslives he touched. he touched. He was He was an avid an avid football football fan,fan, reader, reader, andand herbalist. herbalist. He enjoyed He enjoyed the the martial martial artsarts practice practice of Tai of Tai Chi Chi for for meditation meditation andand relaxation relaxation andand satisƂed satisƂed his his zestzest for for adventure adventure by by becoming becoming a a licensed licensed pilotpilot andand PADI PADI certiƂed certiƂed diver. diver. In addition, In addition, he had he had a love a love of golf of golf andand played played regularly regularly withwith friends friends andand his son-in-law, his son-in-law, Courtney, Courtney, as aas member a member of the of the “Black “Black TeeTee Party”. Party”. With With his dry his dry wit,wit, Robert Robert thrived thrived on on exchanging exchanging interesting, interesting, provocative, provocative, humorous, humorous, witty, witty, andand non-traditional non-traditional ideas ideas andand anecdotes anecdotes withwith his family, his family, friends, friends, andand co-workers co-workers whowho will will cherish cherish memories memories of him of him always. always. Robert Robert felt felt thatthat his his biggest biggest accomplishment accomplishment waswas being being a father. a father. Anyone Anyone whowho knew knew himhim would would agree agree thatthat he was he was an exemplary an exemplary dad!dad! His His daughters, daughters, sonson andand granddaughter granddaughter were were the the absolute absolute joy joy andand pride pride of his of his life.life. He He regularly regularly spoke spoke about about them them andand theirtheir antics antics to to anyone anyone whowho would would listen. listen. He was He was so excited so excited to become to become a grandfather a grandfather thatthat he visited he visited his Ƃrst his Ƃrst grandchild grandchild almost almost daily. daily. His His children children were were his his ƂrstƂrst priority, priority, andand theythey knew knew he supported he supported them them in whatever in whatever wayway theythey needed, needed, whether whether special special dinners, dinners, a trip a trip to Japan to Japan or aor walk a walk down down the the aisleaisle on on thatthat special special day.day. He He valued valued family family above above all else all else andand spent spent many many holidays, holidays, vacations vacations andand family family reunions reunions withwith his his sister sister andand her her family family andand friends. friends. His His nephews nephews andand great great nephews nephews looked looked forward forward to these to these annual annual visits visits Ƃlled Ƃlled withwith laughter, laughter, wrestling, wrestling, movie movie going going andand unsolicited unsolicited information information about about the the latest latest holistic holistic remedies. remedies. Robert Robert waswas always always available available withwith a listening a listening ear,ear, honest honest advice advice or to orjust to just “hang “hang out”. out”. TheThe legacy legacy of Robert’s of Robert’s dedication dedication to family, to family, generous generous spirit, spirit, passion passion for sports, for sports, commitment commitment to community to community service, service, lovelove for travel, for travel, andand overall overall zestzest for life for life will will live live on in onthe in the hearts hearts of his of his three three beautiful beautiful children children of whom of whom he is hesurvived; is survived; Wynter Wynter Deans Deans Wilson Wilson (Courtney), (Courtney), mother, mother, Starr Starr Deans; Deans; Robert Robert James James Burton, Burton, lll, and lll, and NiaNia Kennedy Kennedy Nicole Nicole Burton, Burton, mother mother andand former former wifewife Kathy Kathy Todd Todd Burton, Burton, andand granddaughter, granddaughter, Kensington Kensington Charli Charli Wilson. Wilson. Robert Robert waswas preceded preceded in death in death by his by parents, his parents, Robert Robert Sr. and Sr. and Alberta Alberta Burton Burton andand is also is also survived survived by his by his beloved beloved sister sister Donna Donna Burton Burton Pickard, Pickard, her her husband husband Judson Judson Willie Willie Pickard, Pickard, Jr., Jr., nephews nephews Melvin Melvin Pickard Pickard (Nicole), (Nicole), Judson Judson Willie Willie Pickard Pickard lll, and lll, and William William Robert Robert Pickard. Pickard. He also He also leaves leaves many many special special friends friends andand extended extended family family to treasure to treasure his memory. his memory. Although Although Robert Robert left left his his earthly earthly body, body, his his indomitable indomitable spirit spirit will will live live on in onthose in those thatthat lovelove himhim as they as they continue continue his his legacy legacy by living by living theirtheir liveslives to the to the fullest fullest andand serving serving others others selƃessly. selƃessly. He He will will be be deeply deeply missed missed by all bywho all who shared shared even even a moment a moment withwith him.him.
L I FLEI FREE R FE LE FC L ETC IO TN I OSNO S FOM F RM. R .
James James Ť Ť Saturday, Saturday, March March 19, 19, 2022 2022 12PM 12PM FLAT FLAT CREEK CREEK COUNTRY COUNTRY CLUB CLUB
Family Family Hour Hour ………………....…… ………………....…… Classic Classic JazzJazz Tribute; Tribute; Anonymous Anonymous Da Band Da Band “Celebration “Celebration of Life of Life Video Video Presentation” Presentation” Dr. Dr. ToniToni Belin Belin Ingram, Ingram, OfƂciant OfƂciant Welcome Welcome …………………………….………………………..... …………………………….………………………..... Dr. Dr. CarlCarl Jackson Jackson Military Military Honors Honors Prayer Prayer of Comfort of Comfort ……………………………………………... ……………………………………………... Dr. Dr. CarlCarl Jackson Jackson Musical Musical Selection Selection ……………………………….............. ……………………………….............. Anonymous Anonymous Da Band Da Band Poetry Poetry Reading Reading ………………………………………... ………………………………………... Ms.Ms. Travella Travella Currington Currington Reƃections Reƃections ………………………………………... ………………………………………... Mr. Mr. Nehemiah Nehemiah Montgomery Montgomery Dr. Dr. Jennifer Jennifer Kelly Kelly Dr. Dr. Kevin Kevin Mason Mason Mr. Mr. Stewart Stewart Watts Watts Mr. Mr. Courtney Courtney Wilson Wilson Eulogy Eulogy ………………………………….........……………… ………………………………….........……………… Mr. Mr. Robert Robert Thomas Thomas Acknowledgments Acknowledgments …………………………………........……. …………………………………........……. Mr. Mr. CarlCarl Jackson Jackson Repast Repast Immediately Immediately Following Following in The in The FlatFlat Creek Creek Ballroom Ballroom
Family and Friends
Family and Friends Our Family would like to extend our deepest appreciation to the countless extended family and friends who have shown love and support during our time of bereavement. We will forever cherish your thoughtfulness, visits, messages, phone calls and other expressions of kindness.
Because We Care, We Choose 150 White Street Montevallo, AL 35115 Phone: 205-665-1106 Funeral Keepsake by Prototype Inc. Phone: 334-523-9167 Website: www.jtprototype.com
Funeral Keepsake by Prototype Inc. Phone: (334) 523-9167 Ɣ www.jtprototype.com