“I grew up in Greater Ruth Chapel A.M.E. Church in Prichard and lived next door to the church–just six steps away. After the service, I would go under the big tree in my yard, reciting the sermon I had just heard. Serving God has been my first priority since childhood, but I never imagined that I would be pastoring this church that I grew up in. My mother still lives next door and is in my congregation. It’s a blessing to be back in this church and community. 

I was the only son with five sisters, so I grew up fishing, golfing, and playing baseball with my dad. We lived and breathed baseball in Prichard. Some great players came from our neighborhood. My dad played shortstop for the Indianapolis Clowns in the Negro Leagues. When his professional days ended, he played with the Prichard Mohawks. Dad was also good friends with Hank Aaron. They played stickball with us, throwing sweet gum balls for us to hit; if we could hit those, we could hit anything. 

After the Negro Leagues, Dad played at home with the Prichard Athletics and Prichard Monarchs. I played on the Mohawk’s minor-league team, the Apache, before playing with Dad on the Mohawks. He played first base; I played second. That was one of the highlights of my life. 

We used to have all kinds of baseball teams around Prichard, but those ended, and baseball became a lost art. I want to help bring baseball back here, inspiring kids like I was inspired.

We started 1st Pitch baseball camp last winter to teach fundamentals. We have about eighty kids, and I hope it grows into a baseball academy with league play from t-ball on up. Once word got out about 1st Pitch, former players from the Mohawks and other Prichard and college teams came to help. We’re working on getting shoes, gloves, and equipment for each of the kids attending the camp in January. 

I finished my teaching tenure at Booker T. Washington Middle School and retired from the school system in 2012. I did church work in the mornings and played golf in the afternoons. I was counseling my grandkids about getting into college and heard about other students struggling. Did I retire too soon? God told me I still have work to do, and the love of kids drew me back. I joined the Mobile Retired Teachers Association, where I serve as treasurer, and started tutoring at Hope Community Center four afternoons a week, four hours a day. Holding a masters degree in Physical Education, I started with six kids and now have sixteen, elementary through eighth grade. The kids call me ‘Rev’ or ‘Coach,’ and there is nothing like that 4:00 hug when they walk in. I start every session having each one draw a picture of their day. I want to see how to make it better, then we can start learning. Each student learns differently, which means I have to teach differently. 

I tell my students to use the A, B, C method: Activate your faith for the difficult problem; Believe you can work this problem; Claim your victory. I’ve had kids who couldn’t add, but now they’re on the A-B honor roll. Tutoring has been very rewarding for the students as well as for me. 

I’m a preacher and teacher, but coaching sports has always been another way I minister in the community. I coached for thirty years in middle school and high school. My first assignment was coaching football, track, and girls’ basketball at Semmes Middle School. Semmes was the doormat of middle school athletics, but we changed and won the county championship for three consecutive years. Our practices were harder than the games, and I taught my kids to believe in themselves. They always knew I loved them, but it was a tough love in practice. I never said ‘if we lose;’ it was just ‘if we don’t win.’ I also coached at several high schools, including Vigor, Citronelle, Williamson, Blount, and B.C. Rain. B.C. Rain went to the final four, and we finished runners-up; Blount High School won five area championships and finished regional runners-up twice. I was named coach of the year in 1994 and 2009. Everywhere I was assigned, success followed me–it was nothing but the favor of God. 

The first thing I do each morning is thank the Lord that I made it another day. I come to the altar in my church and talk to God. I feel him giving me the word to give his people. 

I see improvements in our neighborhood. We feed the community, especially the elderly, at least once a month. They see me as a familiar face walking around here. There’s been a decrease in violence and folks standing on the corner trying to sell this and that. I ask the young guys to help keep an eye on the church and keep the grounds clean. They take pride in that. They know I will support them if they come to me with a need. The streets are a little quieter. People hunger for more than food. They hunger for love, comfort, and a simple smile or hello. 

The greatest reward is seeing the people I once coached and taught who are now coaching, preaching or owning their own business. They are helping someone else. When I entered the ministry, the bishop asked me this odd question: If the congregation was only three trees, would I still preach to them? My answer was, ‘I would preach to those three trees and make them move.’ I can’t outgive God. The more I give, the more he gives to me.”

Rev. Willie Burns

If you want to help the 1st Pitch players with gloves or other equipment, let me know and I will connect you with Rev. Burns.

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Rev. Burns story is part of The Weavers series. Stories about the people who stitch together the fabric of society while so many forces pull it apart. Who are the folks who make life a little better in your community? Send me their names and a little about them, and I’ll try to talk with them.

Lynn