Harold Lewis Burnett was born on Tuesday, October 3, 1933 to Betty L. Grant Burnett and Charles Burnett in Philadelphia, PA.

Harold was a product of the Philadelphia School System, having attended Meade Elementary, Vaux Junior High and Central High School. In furthering his education he attended Community College of Philadelphia, Drexel University and Antioch University. He held degrees in Accounting and Business Administration.

Harold also served in the United States Army including an overseas tour of duty in Germany.

Harold married Miriam T. Robinson in 1958 and was the father of Gayle Olivia Burnett Heyer, born to this union; also the proud parent of Harold Garrett Burnett (Gary), Karen Denise Burnett (Niecy) and Gregory Louis Burnett (Greg).

Harold spent over thirty years working in local and federal government. During the eighteen years that he worked for the City of Philadelphia, he worked with numerous community organizations. He completed his service with the city of Philadelphia as Deputy Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Community Service. He then worked for North Incorporated WIC for at least twenty years until he retired. He received numerous performance awards during his career. He also worked privately as a CPA, working tirelessly on his clients taxes annually.

Harold was a founding member of the Mt. Ephraim Tabernacle Baptist Church where he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for forty-four years. He also ushered and sang on the choir at the church. He had become a member of 48th Street, Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church before moving to Winston-Salem, where he joined First Baptist Church Highland Avenue in 2018.

An avid bowler, Harold bowled in leagues in Philadelphia and in Winston-Salem until 2020 when COVID shut down the world. In Philadelphia, Harold served as the treasurer of the Model Bowling League, the oldest African American Bowling League in Pennsylvania for fifty years. He was also a lifelong Philadelphia Eagles fan being a season ticket holder for 30 years.

Harold was preceded in death by his wife, Miriam R. Burnett.

Mr. Burnett is survived by his children, Gary, Niecy, Greg, and Gayle; grandchildren: Stephanie, Barry, Charlene, Tiffany, Emily, Lisa, Harold II, William II, Marcus, Lauren, Matthew and Joshua; 25 plus great-grandchildren; and a host of other family and friends.

There will be no public viewing. Funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, December 14, 2024 First Baptist Church, 700 Highland Avenue, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101. The family will greet friends thirty-minutes prior to service.