Wife Turns Burnette’s Funeral Sour

Mrs. Charlesetta Burnette

By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.

The funeral services of the late Samuel Nathaniel Burnette, Jr. witnessed a standstill last Friday after some of those in attendance resulted to leaving the hall of the First United Methodist Church to avoid listening to the wife of the deceased.

During the ceremony marking the last respect for the fallen sportsman, Mrs. Charlesetta Burnette was called upon to pay her tribute to her late husband.

But to the dismay of those that were present, Mrs. Burnette tried to justify why she abandoned the late Burnette while he was critically ill.
The widow recalled how she was considered to be too young to marry to the late Burnette.

According to her, the deceased allegedly raided her room and took away everything. She said it was against this background that she had to abandon Mr. Burnette while he was suffering from stroke.

While still speaking, the mourners shunned and jeered Mrs. Burnette as she demanded her own share of her late husband’s properties in the quantity of four houses.

Due to the bitter reception she got, Mrs. Burnette had to leave the ceremony and began weeping outside the church’s compound.
She was later consoled by a number of friends that were also attending the funeral of her husband.

Apparently out of shame, Mrs. Burnette failed to attend the burial ceremony of her husband, which was held at the Palm Grove Cemetery on Center Street.

The union between the two was blessed with a child in Siatta Burnette, who is said to be residing with her mother outside Liberia.

Sources claimed that Mrs. Burnette was the fifth wife of the deceased whose children amount to 14, including two foster children.

Mr. Burnette died on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 after a long period of illness having being struck by stroke.

He served as Chairman and President of the Liberia Football Association (LFA), former President and Captain of IE and player of the national soccer team, the Lone Star.