Richmond trailblazer 'Spike' Burke dies; is honored by General Assembly
Emmett Burke, Jr., a longtime Richmond business owner whose life spanned momentous decades in the city, died in February at age 79.
He was remembered for his achievements in the business world, where he was the first Black operations manager at Thalhimers, as well as in athletics and community involvement.
On March 4 the Virginia General Assembly honored his life with an official resolution, one that described him as “a respected entrepreneur and devoted community leader in Richmond” and “a highly admired member” of the city.
Burke — known also by his nickname “Spike” — grew up in Jackson Ward, part of the last generation to call the neighborhood home before public officials in the 1950s built the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike directly through the ward, permanently displacing thousands of residents. He was the grandson of Emmett Carroll Burke, a noted banker and prominent member of the Jackson Ward community in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
After the highway construction the Burke family moved to Church Hill. Burke himself went on to attend Armstrong High School, where he was “widely regarded as an exceptional athlete.”
It was at Armstrong that Burke apparently gained his nickname, one that would stay with him until his death. One of his former classmates, Lena Thompson, wrote in his obituary guestbook that he “used to ‘spike’ the ball on the AHS football team” after a touchdown.
The General Assembly resolution notes that he “excelled at athletics,” and a 1963 report in the Richmond News Leader describes the 17-year-old halfback as having “scored thrice and ran up 66 yards and five carries” in an Oct. 18 match. The touchdowns came rushing, passing and on defense, a rare feat even for professionals.
Attending Virginia State College (now Virginia State University) after high school, Burke was subsequently drafted into the U.S. Army, rising to the rank of Sergeant before being discharged honorably.
Upon returning to Richmond he served as the operations manager for Thalhimers — the first Black worker to ever hold that role — as well as at Carter Hawley Hale. In his role at Thalhimers he was featured in the June 1980 issue of Ebony Magazine, which profiled the city’s transformation from the capital of the pro-slavery Confederacy to a city run largely by Black leadership.
He also ran the business Burke Painting. Among his projects at his business included the painting of the exterior of Winfree Cottage, the onetime home of freedwoman Emily Winfree.
He is survived by his wife Cheryl Lewis Burke, who serves on Richmond’s School Board, and sons Emmett L. Burke and Edmund Burke, along with three grandchildren.
Cherly Burke told The Richmonder that she “couldn’t have had a more giving, solid relationship” than that which she shared with her husband.
She described Burke as “one of the most giving people you would ever want to meet.”
“He was a caregiver,” she said. “Everybody who knew him knew that. But he didn’t want any fame or any recognition.”
He was a major sponsor of sports in the Richmond area, she said, including serving as a coach on youth teams.
Burke was also “quite the dresser,” she said with a laugh. “He was known to wear a big Texas hat and cowboy boots.”
On his obituary, old friends and family shared warm memories of Burke. Longtime Hawks BBQ owner Melvin Crawley said he played football with Burke at Armstrong.
“He was the smallest Hardest hitting player the school ever had,” Crawley wrote.
Addressing him as “Uncle Spike,” Shannon Wilson-Gonzalez wrote: “I will never forget all those times on Hanes Avenue in the backyard, at dinners, and reading all those Jet magazines you used to have.”
Allie Wine, meanwhile, wrote that Burke “was an incredible neighbor to us, and brightened our day almost every day for many years. He was the first person we met when we moved in, and he was such a pillar of our community.”
With Burke having called the city home for nearly eight decades, the General Assembly’s resolution described him as “an active volunteer who worked diligently to enhance the quality of life in Richmond and give back to those in need.”
His obituary said he would be remembered “for his leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, volunteerism and unwavering dedication to both his family and community.”
Cheryl Burke told The Richmonder that his generous spirit was known to residents and families around Richmond.
“He gave so much of himself, not just financially, but also by being present,” she said.
He passed a strong work ethic on to their sons, both of whom are entrepreneurs, she said; he was working until the day he died.
“His belief was, early to rise and get it done. He was not a person to be still.”
“I’ve lost a partner,” she added. “He’ll be missed. He’s already missed.”
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, March 7 at 11 a.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church.
