Matthew Quincy Burks was born on March 20, 1993, in Akron, Ohio to Lorraine Burks and Dana Mitchell. He graduated from East High School in 2011. When he was not playing basketball, he could be found working at McDonald’s on East Market as a manager. While working there, he met and fell in love with Athena Jackson, who became his fiancé and the mother of his children. Matthew worked tirelessly to provide for his family and later went on to work at DHL, where he became one of the brightest rising workers.

Matthew was a true family man. He spent most of his free time enjoying his family and bringing smiles and laughter to everyone who knew him. He loved nothing more than being the father of Anastazja, and found even more joy after the birth of his second daughter, Alazjah. He also loved music and dance and was known to be the life of the party. Those who knew Matthew most, understood him to be a very selfless, kind, and generous man. He was willing to go above and beyond for anyone in need and take as much time as needed to offer emotional support in times of difficulty. He was a self-proclaimed ‘Mama’s boy ‘. He was a devoted father, loyal brother, protective uncle, caring nephew, hilarious cousin, persistent friend, disciplined coworker, wise mentor, committed fiancé, and a decent shooting guard. He brought with him a vibrant spirit and boundless energy. Matthew’s legacy is an example of true love, laughter, and connection and his impact will continue to permeate the hearts of all who knew him.

Matthew passed away at Cleveland Clinic Hospital on August 23, 2021, at the age of twenty-eight. He will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Sharon Mitchell; great-grandmother, Ida Margaret and Hillard L. Holland; cousins, Arthur and Craig Bridgeforth and Gabriel Cornier-Bridgeforth.
Matthew is survived by his mother, Lorraine (Carter) Wyatt; father, Dana Mitchell; fiancé, Athena Jackson; daughters, Anastazja and Alazjah Burks; brothers, Corey Gulledge, Elijah Johnson, Arnold Johnson and Dasmine Spencer; sisters, Mercedes Spencer and Armani Mills; nephew, Isaiah Gulledge; second mother, Sharnetta Spencer; grandmother, Helen (Morris) Wray; grandfather, Edward (Dyan) Henderson Sr.; aunts, Nicole Nelson, Christina (Dan) Melkey, Ericka Mitchell, Tiara Mosley, Yvette and Erica Henderson, April Pitts and Nichole Anderson; uncles, David Jones, Edward (Kim) Henderson Jr., Devin Mitchell and Ronald Keith; great-aunts, Margaret James and Gwen (Alan) Card; great-uncles, Kevin Holland and Hillard Holland Jr.; first cousins, Robert and Aaron Porter, Talia and Ethan Nelson; first cousins once removed, Eric Holland-Jones, Jasmine (Michael) Craig, Christopher Davis Jr., Anthony Holland, Malon Holland and Eboni (Omar) Murraine; second cousins, Zuri Craig, Ariana Craig, Arthur Bridgeforth, III, Nicholas Bridgeforth, Christopher Ewing, David and Adam Cornier-Bridgeforth, Emani, Adena and Malcolm Murraine; best friends, Imani Bentley, Jenna Johnson, Dewaun Boyer, Ben Askew and Terry Holyfield, as well as a host of other family members and friends.