Mr. Luther Edwin Burton III

February 15, 1955

November 18, 2013

Luther E. Burton III, a Savannah resident for over 33 years, died Monday, November 18, after a brief illness.

Luther was born in Petersburg, VA but was raised in Atlanta, GA. The son of a Baptist minister, he learned the love of music through his faith in the Lord and his mother's training. As a child he possessed an alto voice of such fine quality that he was accepted into the Atlanta Boys Choir where a once in a lifetime performance trip to Europe was a dream come true. During his growing-up years and into adulthood he was part of a church quartet which included his mother and two sisters. His smooth tenor voice touched all those who heard it.

In his teen years he became a major fan of both the Beatles and the love of his life, Becky. This devotion never waned. Together he and Becky had two sons that he adored. A cool and funny guy, as one of his sons described.

Luther was a people person in his business and personal life. He loved to entertain and had the lead role in the play “Bye, Bye Birdie” in the early 1990's, in which he received positive reviews. He and his wife were active in the church choir and hand bells at this time as well. In later years he was the lead singer for a local band, “Ghost Image” where he met and made even more friends.

Luther attended Savannah Technical College majoring in electronics. His training eventually led to a management position in the computer and copier field in which he excelled.

Luther will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He is preceded in death by his paternal grandfather Luther E. Burton Sr., his mother Helen Burton, his sister Cathy Aboutawalla and a niece Jennifer Burton. He is survived by his wife Rebecca Burton, his sons Luther E. Burton IV, Eric C. Burton, his father Luther E. Burton Jr., father-in-law Charles R. Gillespie, sister Cheryl (Mark) Pade, brother Bill (Nancy) Burton, several nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Hubert C. Baker Funeral Home, Hodgson Memorial Drive, Savannah, GA. Visitation is from 2:00 to 4:00 on November 21, 2013 followed by Memorial Service at 4:00pm. Interment will be private.

Remembrances may be made to Coastal Pet Rescue PO Box 30462, Savannah, GA 31410 or www.coastalpetrescue.org.

Fairhaven Funeral Home, Hubert C. Baker Chapel

Savannah, GA 31406

912-927-1999 www.fairhavenfuneralhome.net