Katie Lucille Burnside

Katie Lucille Burnside

January 17, 1944 - October 18, 2024

Katie Lucille Starks was a remarkable woman whose life's journey began on January 17, 1944, in the vibrant heart of Dallas, Texas. Born in the nurturing embrace of her maternal grandmother's home, (whom she was named after) Katie arrived weighing just 4 pounds, requiring a chicken incubator to keep her warm. The family humorously remarked that she had been "hatched," a testimony to her spirited beginnings.

Katie enjoyed an affluent upbringing as the only granddaughter of Houston socialite and highly sought after professional caterer, Stella G. Starks. She spent her early years in Los Angeles, California, where she embraced her education and faith as a Seventh-day Adventist. Her parents, Edward John Starks Jr. and Willie Mae Starks, both college-educated trailblazers of the 1940s, instilled in her the importance of knowledge and ambition. When she was 14 and 15, her family grew to include two sisters, Stella Louise and Denise Michelle. As the family moved around due to her father’s pioneering military service in the Army and finally the Air Force, Katie found herself at Anchorage High School in Alaska, making history as the first Black cheerleader in the school's annals and where she majored in piano studies and French. Her abundant talents earned her a full scholarship opportunity to prestigious institutions like Juilliard School of Music in NYC and Texas Prairie View University; however, life led her on a different path when she married her high school sweetheart Willie Curtis Lynch. Together, they welcomed three wonderful children: William Edward “Skip,” Cheryl Renée, and Karyne Yvette. After her marriage to Willie ended, Katie courageously embarked on a new chapter in Colorado, where her indomitable spirit flourished. After a move to Colorado Springs, a fateful meeting with singer and songwriter Leslie Burnside in 1969 (the love of her life) ignited an electrifying partnership, culminating in their wedding on March 28, 1975.

Katie's extraordinary talent as a vocalist shone brightly throughout her life. She experienced the honor of singing with Mahalia Jackson as a child and loved being in choirs. She toured with the popular duo “The Love Sisters” and several bands, but it was in the group Katie Love and The Four Shades of Black, (under the musical director of Leslie) that she experienced the most excitement and career success. With the support of music legends like Jimmy Jules and Isaac Hayes, between 1971-1973 she was signed to both Muscle Shoals Sound and Stax record labels. The group recorded the original soul hit "It Hurts So Good." Her musical partnership with Leslie established them as prominent entertainers, delighting audiences alongside renowned artists such as The Whispers, Fats Domino, and Bobby Womack, (where their group sang background on hit song “That’s the way I feel about ya”)

In the late '70s, Katie and her family moved back to Denver, where she dazzled audiences with her theatrical performances at Bonfils Theater, (earning the title of "Best Singer in a Musical" from the Denver Drama Center), and the local and touring production of “Beehive the 60’s Musical", where she shared the stage with her daughter Sheryl Renee. Katie took great pride in knowing that all three of her children forged their own paths in the world, including her two oldest who followed in her musical footsteps.

Katie's professional life also reflected her exceptional skills; she adeptly worked for The Denver Post and later the IRS, where her impeccable typing proficiency shone brightly until her retirement in January 2006. Following the passing of her beloved Leslie in 2012, Katie returned to Denver from Atlanta where she flourished personally and musically.

In her later years, Katie reveled in her independent living at The Meadows at Montbello, sharing her beautiful voice with a women's ensemble called "Joyful." Her days were filled with friendship, hymns, crossword puzzles and cherished memories until her passing at the age of 80 on October 18, 2024.

Katie leaves behind a legacy of love, resilience, and artistry, remembered fondly by her sister Stella Starks, children, William “Skip” Edward Lynch (Melody), Cheryl “Sheryl Renee” Lynch and Karyne Yvette Lynch, and Leslie’s son, Forrest Burnside Maestas, eight grandchildren, (Demetre (Andi), Leah, Jessica, Rena, Dante, Ameerah, Tyeesha, Kayla (Andre) and eighteen great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Her spirit will forever echo in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know her, a beacon of light and love whose vibrant melodies will live on for generations to come.