Ralph Lincoln Burr

Ralph Lincoln Burr somersaulted out of his body and into the heavens on November 13, 2017, in Phoenix, Arizona. He had spent the last seven years, 364 days, in a locked-in state after suffering a heart attack on November 14, 2009, that lead to anoxic brain injury.

Ralph was born in Phoenix on July 28, 1961, as the second child of Ola Mae and John Lincoln Burr. In 1979, he graduated from East Phoenix High School and in 1982 from Fisk University in Tennessee. Ralph served in the Air Force from 1985-1988, and worked as a Senior Account Executive at Internet Speedway until November 2009.

Mourning his passage into eternity are his sister Sherri Burr, mother Ola Mae Burr-Peete, two children, Monique and Raphael Burr, brother Terrance Peete, nephew Terrance Peete Jr., Aunt Elizabeth Agbi, cousin Yolanda House, and dozens of other relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his father, stepmother, and stepfather. Ralph’s marriage ended in divorce, and he also leaves behind the mother of his children, Awana Brown.

Through Ralph’s infectious smile and good cheer, he spread love and affection to people who knew him before and after the fateful heart attack. Ralph adored his children and often took them to have fun at Chuckie Cheese.

His sister Sherri, who lives in New Mexico, is writing a book called “My Brother’s Guardian, My Family’s Legacy,” in which she chronicles the last eight years of Ralph’s life. DNA testing and documentary evidence indicates he may have been the fifth or sixth great-grandson of founding father and third Vice-President Aaron Burr. “His legendary life remind us,” Sherri writes, “to try to do a much good as we can while we can so that history doesn’t judge us by our worst act on our worst day but rather by the sum total of the love we gave and our contributions to humanity.”

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, November 29, at 11:00 a.m. at Advantage Funeral Services Colonial Chapel at 4141 N. 19th Avenue, followed by burial in East Resthaven Cemetery, 4310 E. Southern Avenue, in Phoenix, Arizona. Relatives and friends wishing to send flowers can contact Advantage Funeral Services at (602)263-7946