Greater Grand Crossing in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Roland W. Burris, Esq.
Trail Blazer
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 17, 2026
1. Roland W. Burris, Esq. gravesite
Roland Burris is best known for being appointed, amid some controversy, by Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich to replace Barack Obama as one of Illinois' two U.S. Senators after the 2008 presidential election. This memorial at Oak Woods was erected before his Senate appointment. Burris and his wife Berlean are believed to both be still alive as of October 2026.
August 3, 1937
Berlean Miller Burris, R.N., Ph.D.
Master of Arts in Biblical Studies
A servant of God
[Panel at the center of the gravesite:]
First African-American in Illinois to become
Appointed U.S. Senator 2009
Illinois Attorney General 1991-95
Illinois State Comptroller 1979-91
Vice-President of Continental Illinois National Bank 1964-73
National Bank Examiner U.S. Treasury Dept. (first Black in the nation) 1963-64
President of the National Association of State Comptrollers 1981-82
President of the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers 1985-86
S.I.U. exchange student to University of Hamburg, Germany 1959-60
[Panel on left side of gravesite:]
Other major accomplishments
National Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of "Operation PUSH" 1977-78
Director Dept. of General Services, State of Illinois
this page online
Board of Directors, Illinois C.P.A. Society (first non-CPA member)
[Panel on right side of gravesite:]
Other major accomplishments
Board of Trustees of the Financial Accounting Foundation (first Black in the nation) 1991-94
Vice-Chairman Democratic National Committee 1985-89
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Government & Politics • Religion & Religious Structures • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is August 3, 1937.
Location. 41° 46.274′ N, 87° 36.129′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Greater Grand Crossing. It is on Ravina Road 0.2 miles south of East 67th Street. The marker is in Oak Woods Cemetery, about a quarter-mile south of the main entrance off 67th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1035 East 67th Street, Chicago IL 60637, United States of
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 17, 2026
2. Roland W. Burris, Esq. Marker
Regionally, this marker is on Chicagos South Side. It is also in the American Midwest. Globally, it is in North America, on the Great Lakes, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Jesse Owens (a few steps from this marker); Relic of the Chicago Fire (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cold Storage Warehouse Fire Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); 9/11 Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Confederate Mound (approx. 0.3 miles away); Confederate Mound Monument (approx. 0.3 miles away); Memorial to Union Supporters from Southern States (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Confederate Dead at Oak Woods Cemetery
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 17, 2026
3. Roland W. Burris gravesite's center slab
More about this marker. The future gravesite of Roland Burris and his wife Berlean is believed to date to the mid-2000s, and predates Roland Burris's appointment to the U.S. Senate after Barack Obama was elected president in 2008. The memorial features three panels at the rear with a long list of his accomplishments.
Burris's gravesite is immediately across the street one of Oak Woods Cemetery's most prominent sites, the grave of Olympic champion Jesse Owens.
Regarding Roland W. Burris, Esq.. Roland Burris was born in downstate Centralia, Ill. After graduating from the Howard University Law School in Washington, D.C., he moved to Chicago and soon thereafter entered state politics. On the last day of 2008, he was appointed to the U.S. Senate by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who just weeks earlier was indicted by federal prosecutors on charges that he was trying to "sell" the seat that had opened up after the election of Barack Obama. Read the commentary below about Burris's brief and tumultuous appointment as one of Illinois's two senators. As of the autumn of 2026, both Roland and Berlean Burris are believed to be still alive.
Also see . . .
1. Roland Burris biography. From the HistoryMakers website.
Excerpt: "On November 6, 1990, Roland W. Burris was elected attorney general for the state of Illinois. At that time, the only African American ranking higher in state office was Douglas Wilder, the governor of Virginia. He served as Illinois attorney general from 1991 to 1995. In 1998, Burris unsuccessfully(Submitted on October 19, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)ran for the office of Governor of the State of Illinois."Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 17, 20264. Roland W. Burris gravesite's left slab
2. You write the caption: Roland Burris' tombstone. A Dec. 31, 2008, article by the Chicago Sun-Times about Burris's elaborate gravesite, which was constructed before he joined the U.S. Senate in 2009. (Submitted on October 21, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Additional commentary.
1. A brief but peculiar and controversial footnote in the story of the 2008 presidential election
Some 20 years ago, as he headed into the twilight on a long and prominent career in Illinois politics, Roland Burris constructed this gravesite, just yards from the grave of track and field legend Jesse Owens. In 1978, Burris was the first African American in Illinois history elected to statewide office when he won the race for state comptroller. In 1990, he was elected as
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 17, 2026
5. Roland W. Burris gravesite's right slab
However, he will likely be best remembered for the final step in his eventful career, which happened after he had commissioned his own gravesite: his appointment to the U.S. Senate in 2008.
That November, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama was elected as the country's first Black president, and 10 days later he resigned his Senate post, whose term had about two years remaining. By law, the appointment to complete Obama's term would be made by Illinois' governor, Rod Blagojevich.
Then in early December 2008 came a bombshell: Gov. Blagojevich was arrested by federal law enforcement and charged with bribery, accused in particular of seeking "personal gain" in exchange for Obama's empty Senate seat. Blagojevich would be impeached by the state house in early January and removed from office and banned for life from holding office by the state senate
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 17, 2026
6. Roland W. Burris, Esq. gravesite at Oak Woods Cemetery
Visible in the background through the middle of memorial is the gravesite of 1936 Olympic star Jesse Owens.
Despite the indictment, Blagojevich went ahead and made an appointment on Dec. 30, 2008, selecting Burris to fill the empty seat. Although Burris was well known in Chicago and Illinois political circles his career included several unsuccessful runs for the U.S. Senate, Illinois governor and Chicago mayor the move immediately sparked speculation that Burris had corruptly obtained the position.
While Blagojevich's impeachment trial loomed to begin 2009, Burris was denied entry into the Senate for the official swearing-in ceremony on January 6, as some senators questioned Blagojevich's authority to fill the role. Although Blagojevich had signed the order appointing Burris, the state's attorney general, Jesse White, and had not signed it, and there was some question as to whether the order was thus enforceable. The Illinois Supreme Court eventually ruled that Blagojevich's signature alone
Photo by Jeff McEvoy, courtesy of U.S. Senate, 2009
7. Roland W. Burris
The next several months brought more turmoil, as state and federal investigators looked at Burris's role in the Senate appointment and whether he had lied under oath in his testimony. In March, state investigators sought access to FBI wiretapped recordings of conversations between Burris and Blagojevich's brother Rob. Those were released to the public in May 2009, and on those tapes he was heard vowing to "personally do something" to help the governor and hinting that he could write him a check.
Despite numerous calls for his resignation, Burris remained in the role. State prosecutors eventually decided not to charge Burris, saying that the "personally do something" line was too vague to press charges. Later in the year, the Senate Ethics Committee also decided not pursue ethics charges. Burris served out the remainder of Obama's old term, and did not run for re-election in 2010.
— Submitted October 19, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on October 19, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
