Monty S Burnett

Monty Stephen Burnett was born October 13th 1943 in Race Course in the Parish of Clarendon on the island of Jamaica. His parents were Joshua Stephen Burnett and Lois Rebecca Burnett. He was lovingly called “Tucks” by his mother. He thought he was given that name because he was extra special.

He was schooled in Jamaica at The Alley Primary School and Vere Technical High School, where he met and fell in love with the beautiful Halry Fay Robinson.

Monty’s first job was at Monymusk sugar factory where he excelled as a lab technician.

He was a skilled football (soccer) player and played on various football teams. He was given the name “Santos” after the famous Brazilian player Djalmo Santos who won two World Cups for Brazil. He relished his notoriety as “Santos” and was pleased when he was called by that name.

Monty Stephen as he loved to be called migrated to the United States in 1970 and joined the shipping company C H Powell where he was employed until his illness.

He married his childhood sweetheart Halry on September 14th 1974. He was a wonderful father to his three sons, Dexter, Justin and Monty Sean. He was grandfather to four Christopher, Nicholas, Alana and Avery.

He was an avid runner. He ran every day. He ran through sleet, rain, snow and heat wave. His love for running started when he lived in Brooklyn and was diagnosed with hypertension. His doctor advised him that he had to lose weight. One could say that Prospect Park was where it all started. He ran in the early mornings and lost so much weight that people were surprised when they saw him. He ran with gusto and challenged anyone to try and outrun him. He did everything with enthusiasm and running

to him was everything. In 2010 before he was diagnosed the family went to Atlanta for the General Conference session of the Seventh Day Adventist church. One morning while walking he decided to challenge us to run up a steep hill, the challenge was accepted. Needless to say he won.

He accepted the Lord in 2005 and was baptized into the Irvington Seventh Day Adventist church. He served the church faithfully as deacon and was head deacon up to the time of his death.

Monty Stephen is survived by his wife, his three sons, four grandchildren, two daughters-in-law, Linda and Erica. He is also survived by brothers, Ronald, Noel, Winston, Joshua, Ian and Phillip, sisters Gloria, Phyllis, Blossom, Lillieth, Lorrain, Kay, Beverly and Patricia, sisters-in-law, Lethe, Millicent, Sonia, Roselyn, Joan and Maxine. He was pre deceased in 2010 by sister Roma. Also mourning him are his nieces and nephews cousins and lots of faithful friends.

He will be missed as a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend who was loved and adored by his family, church family and friends.