Funeral Information
Location:
Allen Temple CME Church
Date: 09-12-2026
Time: 11:00 AM
Time: 11:00 AM
Visitation Information
Location:
Allen Temple CME Church
Date:
Time:
Time:
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Obituary
Reverend Reginald Thaddeus Burke, Sr., affectionately known as Regi, Reggie, Troop, and to so many simply as Pastor Burke, lived a life firmly rooted in faith, family, education, service, and an abiding love for people.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Reginald later moved to Homewood, Illinois, where he attended Homewood-Flossmoor High School. From his earliest years, he was surrounded by a rich heritage of faith, music, education, and service—values that would ultimately shape the man, minister, teacher, and leader he became.
Following high school, Reginald attended historic Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. There, he proudly became a member of the renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers, continuing a treasured family legacy established by his mother, Patricia Rose Saxton Burke; his uncle, Phillip Edward, affectionately known as “Uncle Phil”; and his grandfather, Phillip Edward.
His Fisk years also brought a brotherhood he cherished throughout his life. As a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, affectionately known among his brothers as “Troop,” he embodied the ideals of scholarship, leadership, service, and brotherhood.
A lifelong learner and gifted educator, Reginald earned his bachelor’s degree and teaching certification, and later answered a higher calling by earning his Master of Divinity from Garrett Theological Seminary. Before entering pastoral ministry, he worked as a personal banker and later as a math and science teacher. Teaching was more than a profession for Reginald—it was part of who he was. Whether in a classroom, behind a pulpit, around a dinner table, or in everyday conversation, he believed knowledge was meant to be shared and people were meant to be encouraged.
In time, Reginald answered God’s call to pastoral ministry, dedicating his life to preaching the Gospel, shepherding God’s people, and strengthening communities. His pastoral journey included faithful service to New Hope CME Church in Evanston, Illinois; Trinity CME Church in Decatur, Illinois; Bray Temple CME Church in Chicago, Illinois; and Allen Temple CME Church in Tallahassee, Florida.
Pastor Burke understood that ministry could never be confined to the walls of a sanctuary. He believed the Church should be present wherever people were hurting, hungry, struggling, searching, or simply needed to know that someone cared.
That conviction could be seen throughout his ministry. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he helped launch community vaccination initiatives to connect families with vital health resources. He served with Habitat for Humanity, helping build two homes for families in need. His work with Cops and Clergy helped strengthen relationships among churches, law enforcement, and neighborhoods, while his prison ministry carried a message of hope, redemption, and purpose behind prison walls. He also worked faithfully to provide food and clothing to those in need.
For Pastor Burke, ministry could be summarized simply:
Bring people to Christ. Love people. Serve people. Teach people.
Those who encountered Reginald will remember his warm smile, commanding presence, humor, wisdom, unmistakable voice, and larger-than-life personality. He possessed a remarkable ability to enter a room and make his presence felt while still making others feel welcomed, valued, and seen.
Beyond the pulpit, Reginald loved to travel, teach, mentor, laugh, fellowship—and eat. Yet, for him, sharing a meal was about much more than food. He affectionately called it “breaking bread.” Around the table were conversations, stories, laughter, lessons, fellowship, and love. For Reginald, some of life’s greatest ministry happened while simply breaking bread together.
Above all, Reginald loved the Lord deeply, loved his family fiercely, and loved people without hesitation.
He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife and ministry partner, Rev. First Lady Rachon Burke; his beloved daughters, Taylor Renee Burke, Rachel Marie Burke, and Azjahnae Danielle Thomas; his beloved sons, Reggie Burke Jr. and Shareef Thomas; and his precious grandchildren, Asir Rachon Toney, Hasina Christine Thomas, Shareef Thomas Jr., and Asani David Thomas.
He also leaves his loving sister, Mary (Bill) Hladio; his loving brother, Martin (Claire Marie) Burke; and a host of beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family members, fraternity brothers, clergy colleagues, church families, students, mentees, friends, and countless lives touched through his ministry.
Reginald was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Patricia Rose Saxton Burke, and his father, Henry Needham Burke.
Though his earthly assignment is complete, his ministry still speaks.
His sermons live through those who heard them.
His lessons live through the students he taught.
His compassion lives through those he served.
His wisdom lives through those he mentored.
His love lives through his family.
And his ministry continues through every life he pointed toward Christ.
Pastor Burke lived his faith.
He taught his faith.
He served through his faith.
And now he rests in the God he faithfully served.
Until that great reunion, when we gather once more around Heaven’s table to “break bread,” we will carry his faith, laughter, wisdom, love, and memory with us.
A life well lived.
A race faithfully run.
A servant’s work complete.
A legacy that still speaks.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Reginald later moved to Homewood, Illinois, where he attended Homewood-Flossmoor High School. From his earliest years, he was surrounded by a rich heritage of faith, music, education, and service—values that would ultimately shape the man, minister, teacher, and leader he became.
Following high school, Reginald attended historic Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. There, he proudly became a member of the renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers, continuing a treasured family legacy established by his mother, Patricia Rose Saxton Burke; his uncle, Phillip Edward, affectionately known as “Uncle Phil”; and his grandfather, Phillip Edward.
His Fisk years also brought a brotherhood he cherished throughout his life. As a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, affectionately known among his brothers as “Troop,” he embodied the ideals of scholarship, leadership, service, and brotherhood.
A lifelong learner and gifted educator, Reginald earned his bachelor’s degree and teaching certification, and later answered a higher calling by earning his Master of Divinity from Garrett Theological Seminary. Before entering pastoral ministry, he worked as a personal banker and later as a math and science teacher. Teaching was more than a profession for Reginald—it was part of who he was. Whether in a classroom, behind a pulpit, around a dinner table, or in everyday conversation, he believed knowledge was meant to be shared and people were meant to be encouraged.
In time, Reginald answered God’s call to pastoral ministry, dedicating his life to preaching the Gospel, shepherding God’s people, and strengthening communities. His pastoral journey included faithful service to New Hope CME Church in Evanston, Illinois; Trinity CME Church in Decatur, Illinois; Bray Temple CME Church in Chicago, Illinois; and Allen Temple CME Church in Tallahassee, Florida.
Pastor Burke understood that ministry could never be confined to the walls of a sanctuary. He believed the Church should be present wherever people were hurting, hungry, struggling, searching, or simply needed to know that someone cared.
That conviction could be seen throughout his ministry. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he helped launch community vaccination initiatives to connect families with vital health resources. He served with Habitat for Humanity, helping build two homes for families in need. His work with Cops and Clergy helped strengthen relationships among churches, law enforcement, and neighborhoods, while his prison ministry carried a message of hope, redemption, and purpose behind prison walls. He also worked faithfully to provide food and clothing to those in need.
For Pastor Burke, ministry could be summarized simply:
Bring people to Christ. Love people. Serve people. Teach people.
Those who encountered Reginald will remember his warm smile, commanding presence, humor, wisdom, unmistakable voice, and larger-than-life personality. He possessed a remarkable ability to enter a room and make his presence felt while still making others feel welcomed, valued, and seen.
Beyond the pulpit, Reginald loved to travel, teach, mentor, laugh, fellowship—and eat. Yet, for him, sharing a meal was about much more than food. He affectionately called it “breaking bread.” Around the table were conversations, stories, laughter, lessons, fellowship, and love. For Reginald, some of life’s greatest ministry happened while simply breaking bread together.
Above all, Reginald loved the Lord deeply, loved his family fiercely, and loved people without hesitation.
He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife and ministry partner, Rev. First Lady Rachon Burke; his beloved daughters, Taylor Renee Burke, Rachel Marie Burke, and Azjahnae Danielle Thomas; his beloved sons, Reggie Burke Jr. and Shareef Thomas; and his precious grandchildren, Asir Rachon Toney, Hasina Christine Thomas, Shareef Thomas Jr., and Asani David Thomas.
He also leaves his loving sister, Mary (Bill) Hladio; his loving brother, Martin (Claire Marie) Burke; and a host of beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family members, fraternity brothers, clergy colleagues, church families, students, mentees, friends, and countless lives touched through his ministry.
Reginald was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Patricia Rose Saxton Burke, and his father, Henry Needham Burke.
Though his earthly assignment is complete, his ministry still speaks.
His sermons live through those who heard them.
His lessons live through the students he taught.
His compassion lives through those he served.
His wisdom lives through those he mentored.
His love lives through his family.
And his ministry continues through every life he pointed toward Christ.
Pastor Burke lived his faith.
He taught his faith.
He served through his faith.
And now he rests in the God he faithfully served.
Until that great reunion, when we gather once more around Heaven’s table to “break bread,” we will carry his faith, laughter, wisdom, love, and memory with us.
A life well lived.
A race faithfully run.
A servant’s work complete.
A legacy that still speaks.