ERIC S. BURRIS SR.

Eric Stanley Burris, was born on Tuesday, August 19, 1952 at Medical Center Hospital in Bogalusa, Louisiana to Eva Mae Washington and Rayford Burris. 

He was married to his lovely wife, Celia Green, for two years at the time of his passing.

He was raised with siblings Gilda Burris-Townsend, Rayford Burris Jr., and Sheryl Burris in the family home. Attending church services at Carmel Baptist Church. Eric later also understood Alvin Moses-Ellzey, Renee Ellzey-Hill, and Donna Ellzey as siblings. 

As a teenager, he moved to Los Angeles with his mother Eva Mae and his two sisters Gilda and Sheryl.

Living with contradictions, like many of us, Eric was both loud and silent. He was a skilled photographer who opted to make a career from working at the United States Postal Service for more than 40 years, after honorable discharge from the United States Army.

Among his best traits were his loyalty and his ability to love unconditionally without judgement.

He was accepting of people exactly as they were and opted to leave them be. All he ever wanted was for others to treat him the same. 

When he departed us, he’d developed a profound understanding that we all must leave this world to journey to the next— without negotiation or compromise.

With that understanding he insisted on living through this journey according to his own rules—and on his own terms.

He considered himself a loner but loved to observe people and make everyone laugh. Forever the life of the party, if you were ever in attendance at a gathering and watched him dance or heard him crack jokes, you were indeed lucky. 

He left this world to continue on his journey, Sunday May 5th, 2024. He left behind the following family: Siblings, Gilda; Sheryl; Alvin; and Renee as well as his daughter Tiffany Burris-Kobashigawa; his son Darien Burris; and grandchildren Sommer Kobashigawa; Noboru Kobashigawa; Mikala Burris, Madyson Burris, Amir Burris, Abigail Burris, Marquis Burris; McKenzie Burris; and Great Granddaughter Milan Burris-Sharperson; as well as nephews Curtis Anthony “Tony”Townsend; David Townsend; Damien Williams, Cortlin Williams; Kyle Hill; Sheldon Wilson; and niece Ashlee Hill.

He also leaves behind his best friend from high school, Leslie Lane, who worked beside him during his long-tenured service at the post office.

Family who preceded him in death are his mother; Eva Mae; his son Eric S. Burris Jr.; his brother Rayford; his sister Donna; his niece Leslie Townsend; and first devoted wife, Pamela R. Murphy-Burris, whom he was married to for 26 years. 

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