Leslie Earl Burton

Leslie Earl Burton, Jr, “Earl” to all his family, friends, and radio/television audiences, died peacefully at Annie Penn Hospital in Reidsville, NC on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. Earl was born on December 19, 1940 and was the only and beloved child of Leslie Earl Burton, Sr., and Beverly Porter Burton, both deceased.

A visitation for family and friends will be held at 10am on Wednesday, March 4 at Wilkerson Funeral Home, 1909 Richardson Drive in Reidsville, followed by a graveside service in Greenview Cemetery. Pastor Dennis Chapmon, also a lifelong friend, will be presiding the service

Earl was a graduate of Reidsville High School, and attended Guilford College for two years, until health issues interrupted his studies. Shortly after returning to Reidsville, he started work as a DJ for WREV, and in the middle of reading the National Weather Service forecast for rain, he stopped and said “Folks, I think that’s wrong! I think we are going to see snow!” And, he was absolutely right!

Thereafter, Earl was widely known in the Reidsville and Rockingham County communities for his memorable and uncannily accurate weather forecasts. Earl was fascinated by weather from earliest childhood, and kept meticulous records on weather patterns in the region dating from 1957 until his recent death. Earl was a meteorologist for WAU/Channel 14 television and also aired his broadcasts three times daily on WREV/Channel 1220 AM. Before the age of cellular phones and the internet, he maintained two telephone lines offering daily forecasts from his home in Reidsville. In addition to his talent for meteorology, Earl had a “velvet voice,” instantly recognizable to his audiences.

In addition to his professional abilities and accomplishments, Earl was a humble man who was self-effacing and uncomfortable in the spotlight. He had a strong faith that guided him in his principles and compassion for others. Although in his later years, his failing eyesight diminished his mobility, he maintained his delightful sense of humor, his gift for spirited and articulate conversation, his ability to make a good story even better, his genuine concern for the well-being of others, his appreciation for his many treasured friendships, and his kind and gentle disposition.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Earl’s honor to Ancora Compassionate Care (Hospice) of Rockingham County, 2150 NC-65, Reidsville, NC 27320, would be appreciated.