Leslie Adolphus Burns was born on September 25, 1943, in Jefferson, TX. He was
the eldest child of the late Adolphus and Corine Burns. He departed this life on the evening of May 4, 2022, in Texas City, Texas surrounded by family. Leslie was 78 years old.
He attended H.B. Pemberton H.S. in Marshall Texas, graduating in 1960. Leslie then attended Prairie View A&M College obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture (1964). Leslie was active on campus through his involvement in ROTC and the Club Crescendo.
He met his soulmate Gwendolyn Mitchell on a blind date in Tyler, Texas. They were united in marriage for 57 years.
Leslie started his career as a health inspector for the City of Galveston. Due to the merging
of many city and county services, he took on the role of Long-Term Care Surveyor. As a
surveyor he was involved in many groundbreaking initiatives that have helped improve
long-term care practices in Texas. His career with the State of Texas spanned over 20
years. After retiring from the State, Leslie decided to put his vast knowledge and
experience to use by starting his own consulting business. Not one to pass up on an
opportunity to make systemic change in the industry he transitioned into the private
sector working as Southeast Texas Regional Director of Operations of a national long term
care management company. His total career spanned over forty years in the field, but he
will best be remembered as a beloved nursing home administrator who was dedicated to
delivering quality care to residents as well as an enthusiastic mentor to many in the field.
He was initiated into the Graduate Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Gamma Pi
Lambda Chapter, Galveston in 1971 and had been a Life Member since 1989. Leslie was a
devoted and active member in his beloved fraternity.
Leslie was an avid fan of all sports especially college and professional football and
basketball. He and Gwen loved taking cruise vacations and road trips. His favorite
pastimes were barbecuing, reading (Time, National Geographic, biographies), he loved to
watch the Food Channel, the History Channel, political commentary, and the show Pawn
Stars. He loved watching action/western movies in very loud surround sound, and he
wasn’t too shabby a domino player. He was a member of Abundant Life Christian Center in
LaMarque, Texas and especially enjoyed fellowship with the senior saint’s ministry, the
Redeemers. He was passionate about upholding family traditions and connection as
evidenced by him and his wife Gwen hosting an annual Christmas dinner for family and
friends for many years.
Leslie was preceded in death by his sister, Sheila Howard, brothers Edward Irving, Joe
Louis Irving and Will Torice Burns.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Gwendolyn Mitchell Burns, daughter, Sonya
Ware and husband Sylvester of Manvel, TX, sister, Johnie Lyn Gaten and husband Cornell
of Missouri City, TX, brother Dr. Carl W. Burns of Fort Worth, Texas and a host of nieces,
nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.