Dr. Nathel Burtley

BURTLEY, Dr. Nathel - Age 79, passed away Monday, April 6, 2020 at Hurley Medical Center. A memorial service will be determined at a later date due to the current public health and safety concerns that we are facing at this unprecedented time. Dr. Nathel Burtley went home to be with the Lord on April 6, 2020. He was born on April 12, 1940, in the small town of Future City, Illinois. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He first accepted Jesus Christ as his savior at Shiloh Baptist Church in his hometown of Cairo, Illinois. He was a lifelong Christian and served as a Deacon of Foss Avenue Baptist Church in Flint, Michigan. With the guidance of his mother, Annie Turner, and a host of mentors, Nathel overcame impoverished circumstances to discover his passion for public education. He completed a B.A. in political science and M.S. in speech pathology at Southern Illinois University (SIU). Throughout his entire life, Nathel possessed a special gift for singing. As a freshman at SIU his voice was heard periodically singing on television for a program entitled The Breakfast Show. Nathel was a dedicated member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, securing student housing for the fraternity at SIU and serving as Graduate Advisor. He described his first child, Darlla Michelle, as coming home from the hospital to his wife, the fraternity house, and 52 Alpha men as live-in babysitters. Although an Illinois native, Nathel will be forever linked to the state of Michigan and the Flint community. In 1974 he received his Ph.D. in educational administration and urban education from his beloved Michigan State University (MSU). He would go on to serve in a host of positions across the state of Michigan, including: speech pathologist, elementary school principal, high school principal, intercollegiate athletic administrator, deputy superintendent, and superintendent. Due to these efforts, he was recognized by MSU as a distinguished alumnus in 1996. Nathel became known as a national leader in community-oriented approaches to urban education policy and served as the first African American Superintendent of the Flint Community Schools. Despite his numerous professional accomplishments, Nathel’s family remained at the center of his life. He leaves to cherish his memory: wife, Kathy Vincent Burtley of Flint; daughter, Darlla Michelle Burtley of Southfield, MI; sons, Bryan (Susie) Michael Burtley of Colorado Springs, CO and Christopher Vincent Burtley of Detroit, MI; sister, Florence (Michael) Taggert of St. Louis, MO; siblings-in-law, Jan Reaves of Davison, MI, Paula Muldrew, and Gloria (Gerald) Browning of Flint, MI; three grandchildren, Devin Burtley, Christian Barr and Derek Barr of Colorado Springs, CO; nieces, Camilla Boyles of Milwaukee, WI, Jeffner (John) Grafwallner of Milwaukee, WI, Maria Hayes of St. Louis, MO, Tomi Burtley of Chicago, IL, Mary (Tyrone) Katherine Coleman of Cairo, IL, Quintella (James) Turtue of Milwaukee, WI,Vickie (Ned) Evans of North Chicago, Illinois, Evelynne Tate-Townsell of Milwaukee, WI; nephews, Ronald Burtley of Chicago, IL, Pierre Gerrin of St. Louis, MO, Ronald M. Boyles of Tomah, WI; and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends, including: Erone and Queenella Miller, John Mathews, Dr. James and Rebecca Ray, Dr. William Coats, Dr. James Hawkins, Dr. Ira Rutherford, Levet Ogden-Burtley, and Tyrone Booth among many others. Nathel was preceded in death by his mother, Annie Turner; father, Quincy Burtley; parents-in-law, Ernest and Gloria Vincent Sr.; brother, Alvern Burtley; sisters, Areatha Boyles, Herlintt Moore, and Gussella Burtley; nephews, Vernell Boyles, George Gerrin III, Orlando Gerrin, Hashi Burtley and Artie Moore; brothers-in-law, Chedrick Reaves and Ernest Vincent Jr; and mentors, Dr. Louis Romano and Dr. Joseph Pollack. Nathel’s professional career was characterized by numerous awards and honors, but the driving forces in his life were family, relationships, education, equity, and social justice. The family wishes to express their love and thanks to the Foss Avenue Baptist Church family, the Flint community, and Hurley Medical Center. Memorial contributions may be made in Nathel’s memory to the endowed Dr. Nathel Burtley Leadership and Racial Equity Fund established at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint.

Dr. Nathel Burtley

April 12, 1940 - April 6, 2020