Former AFRO Paperboy 92, Killed in Hit and Run

Special to the AFRO

Cornelious Burton Weeks Jr. (September 28, 1927- February 07, 2020) was born in Washington D.C. to Cornelious Burton Weeks Sr. and Lillian Roger Weeks, at Columbia Hospital for Women. He grew up between D.C. and Fairmont Heights, MD, and in the early 1930s he had a newspaper route for the AFRO American Newspaper that he delivered on roller-skates.

He attended Howard University for two years with a focus on the arts, specifically music, and was remembered as having a deep, mellifluous, bass singing voice of unusual resonance and beauty. He was a WWII Veteran in the U.S. Army Air force, and was honorably discharged in 1947.  He was a skilled contractor/ handyman, and could work in most mediums including carpentry, roofing, electrical, painting and masonry. He was known for his generosity, quick wit, sense of humor, and especially for his regimen of brisk 4-5 mile walks, along with reading 4-5 newspapers daily- even at 92 years old! 

Tragically, his life was abruptly taken on Feb. 7, when he was struck down by a vehicle traveling East Bound at 6910 Annapolis Road in Hyattsville, Md. at approximately 5:20 pm. The driver did not stop to render assistance but fled the scene of the crime and is still at large. He was taken to UM Prince George County Hospital Center where he passed an hour later from severe blunt force trauma.

He is predeceased by his father and mother, six of his siblings as well as his nephew Christian Deschene. He leaves behind his older sister Leelia Padilla- 96 years old, and over a dozen nieces and nephews- to whom he was known as Uncle Sunny.  

His ashes will be buried at the family plot at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery 4001 Suitland Road, Suitland Md., 20746 on March 30, at 11 am. All are welcome to attend. 

At a date to be determined, there will be a ceremony with a small Military Honor Guard.

If you have any information regarding the identity of the hit-and-run driver, please contact the Prince George County Police at 301-731-4422 and/or Mr. Weeks’ nephew Kirk Taylor, at 818-470-4070.