Alvin Burton

Alvin Burton

17 August 1905 - 2 August 2005
Conference Cane: 2003
Age at death: 99 years, 11 months


Alvin Burton

Alvin Burton was born August 17, 1905 in Waynesboro, Georgia. After moving to Detroit, he was recommended for his license to preach by the Scott Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church in 1924. It was the only Methodist church serving the African American community at that time. He received Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Divinity degrees from Boston University. He was ordained an elder in the Lexington Conference (part of the former racially-segregated Central Jurisdiction) in 1936 and transferred to the Detroit Conference in 1958.

He served a student pastorate in Boston and appointments in Flint, Muncie, IN, and Springfield, OH. He also served Detroit: Second Grace for three separate periods. He was named its Pastor Emeritus in 1971 when he retired.

He died August 2, 2005 just 15 days short of his 100th birthday. He was the current holder of the Detroit Conference Cane, which is presented to the oldest clergy member of the conference. He was the first African American to hold the cane, which was presented to him November 8, 2003. His funeral service was held August 9 at Detroit: Second Grace UMC.

- Detroit Annual Conference minutes of 2006, p. 217

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