Burks Family Genealogy & History

Alec Burks, born July 20, 1991, is a prominent American professional basketball player known for his role as a shooting guard with the Miami Heat in the NBA. Selected 12th overall in the 2011 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz, Burks has made a name for himself with his scoring prowess, including a career-high 34 points against the Denver Nuggets. His collegiate career at Colorado saw him earn the title of Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year in 2010, and he was a standout player in the Big 12 First Team during his sophomore year.

Treylon Burks is a professional American football wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans in the NFL, known for his time with the Arkansas Razorbacks in college. Drafted 18th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, Burks made significant contributions despite injuries, including a notable performance against the Green Bay Packers with 111 receiving yards. He faced setbacks due to injuries in the 2023 and 2024 seasons but remains a prominent figure in Tennessee's lineup. His athletic prowess is complemented by his achievements in college, where he earned All-SEC honors and was pivotal to Arkansas' offensive strategy.

Oren Spencer Burks, born on March 21, 1995, is a prominent American professional football linebacker currently playing for the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL. He began his career with the Green Bay Packers after being selected in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft. Burks has also played for the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles, achieving notable success as a Super Bowl champion with the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. Throughout his career, Burks has been recognized for his defensive skills, including notable performances and contributions on special teams.

Ruth Coker Burks, often referred to as the Cemetery Angel, is renowned for her extraordinary contributions during the AIDS crisis as a caregiver and advocate. Based in Arkansas during the late 1980s, she utilized her earnings as a real estate agent to support and care for AIDS patients abandoned by their families. Burks is notably recognized for burying over 40 victims in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Her efforts extended beyond caregiving, as she also provided AIDS medications and organized safe sex education. Despite facing community ostracism, Burks's advocacy extended to working with organizations like Helping People with AIDS and serving as a White House consultant for AIDS education during Bill Clinton's presidency.

Burks was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and named after her grandmother. Her early life was marked by a challenging family situation, with her mother, Aline (née Lawler), being hospitalized with tuberculosis and her father passing away when she was just five years old. Raised in a Methodist family, Burks experienced periods in orphanages due to an abusive household. Her mother eventually purchased all remaining plots in Files Cemetery, which Burks later used to bury AIDS victims. She raised her daughter, Alison, as a single parent following a divorce.