Burns died on December 28, 2011 in Spotsylvania, Virginia. He was born on October 23, 1961 in Reed City, Michigan. He was the son of Duane and Harriet Burns.
Burns was a graduate of Creston High School and Grand Rapids Community College and also attended Texas Southern in Houston, Texas. At Creston High School he excelled at both football and basketball and was named All-City Quarterback and McDonald’s All American High School football team.
Burns excelled in golf but didn’t take it up until he had already earned a college football scholarship for his standout play in high school. He played college football briefly at Drake University before opting for a golf career. He played as a mini-tour professional before joining the Michigan PGA and becoming its only African American member. He is recognized for his notable work for the Tiger Woods Foundation where he served almost nine years setting up and teaching golf at charity golf clinics featuring Woods for the foundation around the country as the Director of the Junior Golf clinics. Burns was also owner of GolfPlay, LLC, a golf course management company.
He was preceded in death by Duane Burns, Sr. and son, Jacques and both maternal and paternal grandparents. Mr. Burns is survived by his daughter Gabrielle, 28, son Tamir, 17, mother, Harriet, and three brothers, Duane, Darryl and Dwight.
