She made history when she was elected in 1991 to the Aurora City Council and continued to blaze a trail of unparalleled leadership, service, and advocacy, for the next three decades.
A trailblazing public servant whose name is synonymous with Aurora, Ward 7 alderwoman, Scheketa Hart-Burns, was the first African American elected to the Aurora City Council. She died Monday, June 19 as the first sitting member of the Aurora City Council to die while in office.
Although she was the elected representative of the 7th Ward, her circle of influence transcended all 10 Aurora wards.
A fierce advocate for youth, senior citizens, and the underserved, alderwoman Hart-Burns dedicated her life to public service, community engagement, and social justice. She wasn’t just a public servant. She quickly became a friend, mentor, sister, or mother to everyone with whom she she held interactions.
During her tenure, she launched more than two dozen organizations, including neighborhood groups, resident councils, homeowners’ associations, cultural groups, youth groups, faith groups, educational programs, and service initiatives.
For 34 years, she was host to her signature annual Martin Luther King Jr. Back to School Bash, which provided school supplies, clothes, shoes, haircuts, and mentors to more than 1,000 youth each year.
During a heightened gang activity in Aurora in the 1990s and early 2000s, alderwoman Hart-Burns formed a coalition of faith leaders to clean the streets, led the charge to replace dangerous gang houses with parks, and worked to form truces between gangs.
A distinct leader on the Aurora City Council, where she was a committee chairman for more than 20 years, and previously served as mayor pro-Tem.
Alderwoman Hart-Burns earned more than 100 awards throughout her career.
Arrangements:
- The City of Aurora government will be host to a special procession where alderwoman Hart-Burns’ casket will travel one final time past Aurora City Hall, 44 E. Downer Place, at 2 p.m. Friday, June 30. The public is invited to line Downer Place between Stolp and Broadway Avenues to bid farewell.
- Alderwoman Hart-Burns’ wake will be held following the procession from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, June 30, at Mount Olive Church, 1039 Bonner Avenue.
- The homegoing celebration will commence at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 1, at the Cathedral of Grace St. John AME Church, 2950 Bilter Road, followed by a community repast.
- Flowers can be sent to James Funeral Home, 204 Hill Avenue.
—City of Aurora government