Memorial Celebration
Saturday, May 2, 2015, 12-6 PM
KPFA Radio
1929 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94704
Please bring your favorite food to share, and if you’d like, wear professional Oakland team sports apparel.
Wesley Pili Burton
Jul 28, 1978-Apr 18, 2015
On April, 18, 2015, Wesley passed away after a hit and run accident
on his way home to his family after work.
Wesley Burton, radio host, control room operator, and proud union member for KPFA in Berkeley, Ca. graduated from Oakland Street Academy and attended Stillman College in Alabama, San Francisco State University and Cal State Stanislaus. He married his long-time friend, Lucrecia Montes in July of 2006. They had four children, Santiago, Enrique, Makayla and Samaya. He started his career in radio as a teen with Youth Radio. Wesley was a local sports fanatic, he loved the Oakland A’s, Oakland Raiders, and Golden State Warriors.
He was a member of the Knights of Saint Peter Claver, recently elected as shop steward with the Communication Workers of America, creator and producer of After Hours Radio and Side Show Radio, producer, creator and lover of music, poet and community activist.
Wesley was so generous; his heart was in music, social justice, sports, some good bbq and above all, his friends and family. Wes was the cool dad we all wished we had. He loved the bay area, and we are all better people for having known him.
He is survived by his wife, Lucrecia Burton, three young children, Santiago, Enrique and Samaya; mother, Lydia Sweatt; step-father, John Sweatt; one brother and two sisters, Stanley Burton Jr., Jenera Burton, and Chrysta Burton; grandmother, Charity Lois Burton. Also survived by three aunts; Auntie Mary Ann Finne, Aunt Jenera Beals, Aunt Lois Logan Avondale; Uncles Alfred Beals, Cecil Burton and Ronald Burton; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.
He is preceded in death by his daughter, Makayla Marie Burton; father, Stanley Burton Sr.; Grandmother, Bernadette Beals (Nana); Grandfathers, Wilbert Beals (Papa) and Willie Oscar Burton, Sr.