Osceola News Brief - Osceola County Honors Belinda Johnson-Cornett with Lieutenant Lloyd Burton, Jr. Service Award

During Monday’s meeting of the Board of County Commissioners the Lt. Lloyd Burton, Jr. Service Award for 2020 was awarded to Belinda Johnson-Cornett for her service to the Osceola County community.Johnson-Cornett is the CEO of Osceola Community Health Services. The County started this award in 2016 to honor Mr. Burton, who was the first black deputy to serve the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office and also founded of the Black Benevolence Association. This award is presented by the Board of County Commissioners in his honor during Black History Month as we remember the struggles, sacrifices and service of members of our African-American community.

About Lt. Lloyd Burton, Jr. He was the first black deputy to serve the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office when he was hired in December 1966. Burton served most of his 13 years with the office – much in the “Ranch and Grove” Division, which was a mainstay of rural Osceola in the days before the creation of Walt Disney World. The Lake Alfred native was promoted to Lieutenant in 1975 and retired in 1976. Known for his morals, ethics and values, Burton spent 30 years in law enforcement, serving and protecting the community he loved. Before he passed away, Burton founded the Black Benevolence Association, which offered aid and protection to its members and to their dependents.