The Story of Lieutenant Colonel Corrine “Coco” Burnett

An Outstanding Black Woman in U.S. History who lived right here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

By Carmen A. Murguia,
Milwaukee Black Media

“The courage and dedication of women in the military is nothing short of remarkable.”
-A well-known saying in the United States Army

The City of Milwaukee has lost a true decorated soldier, accomplished nurse and educator, incredible multi-business founder and owner, passionate community leader, and true to her nature, a dear friend and a free spirit: Corrine “Coco” Burnett (Hereafter Coco as she was fondly known) died on Saturday, May 30th at 4:30 a.m., in Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital surrounded by her loving Family.

Coco was Born on May 5, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois to Napoleon Burnett of Chicago and Henrietta Williams of Louisville, Kentucky. She was the second oldest of 10 children. Coco was proudly raised in a humble household at 3346 Kewadine in Inkster, Michigan . Her siblings looked to her as a second mother because while her father worked at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan, and her mother worked at St. Joe’s Hospital (now Trinity) in Ann Arbor, Michigan to raise their children and provide for them, Coco stepped in to help encourage her siblings, helped them to read and write, and most of all her sister Martina Williams Myles shared, “we enjoyed having Coco teach us how to dance.” In fact, Coco loved to play the song, “I Hope You Dance,” sung by none other than Gladys Knight.

“I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you’ll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance…”

As a youth, Coco attended Carver Elementary and later Inkster High School, excelling in her favorite sport Tennis and her studies, where she graduated as the school Valedictorian in 1959. Coco was 18 years old when she boarded a Greyhound bus all by herself to Tuskegee Institute (Now Tuskegee University) on an academic and athletic scholarship, and she was moved by a quote attributed to the founder of Tuskegee University:

“A lie does not become truth.
Wrong does not become right.
Evil does not become good just because the majority have accepted it.”
     -Booker T. Washington, the founder of Tuskegee University, founded as Tuskegee Normal School for Colored Teachers on July 4, 1881, a Historically Black College and University, Tuskegee, Macon County, Alabama

In 1964, Coco received her Bachelor’s in Nursing from Tuskegee Institute, where she Initiated through the Gamma Tau Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated at Tuskegee University in 1963. “Corrine “Coco” Burnett has exemplified a lifelong commitment to sisterhood, service and social action,” expressed her Sorority sister Debra Nevels. Coco continued her education at Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts where as a member of the class of 1972, she received her Master’s in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, and ultimately, she went on to study at Marquette University School of Business in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and in 1988 Coco received her Master’s in Business Administration.

During Coco’s incredible life in the military where she enlisted with the United States Army, she served two terms in Vietnam and one term in Japan as a Healthcare nurse administrator, Registered nurse, and achieved the Decorated Bronze Star. Coco received two Presidential Citations in 1967 from President Lyndon B. Johnson and in 1970 from President Richard M. Nixon. Coco was a Second in command Lieutenant, United States Army, 1963; Advanced through grades Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army Supervisor, Assistant Professor, Head Nurse, United States Army Nurse Corps. 1965-1986, and retired honorably from the United States Army in 1986.

*Coco’s many accomplishments throughout her working career were nothing shy of making an impact in business and government: She was worked as a Supervisor, acting division chief, Fort Logan Mental Health Hospital, Denver 1977-1978, Nurse Executive, Fort Logan Mental Health Hospital, Denver 1980 -1984, Deputy Health Commissioner, City of Milwaukee 1988-1992, and went on to establish not one, but three companies as President, Chief Executive Officer, Milwaukee 1992, President, Chief Executive Officer, Milwaukee Front Door Health Systems 1994 and President, Chief Executive Officer, Milwaukee ODI, Inc. 1995, as well as being the Founder of WOMO charities.

We wanted our beloved City and our vast readership to truly know Corrine “Coco” Burnet: an astounding Historical figure in the United States of America, a Black woman who came from humble beginnings, raised in a beautiful and loving family, was a Registered Nurse, dedicated her service for 23 years in the United States Army where she became a highly decorated Lieutenant Colonel, a leader in City government, a savvy businesswoman and a philanthropist.

Most of all, Coco was a beloved Soror, Friend, and Sister — a title she cherished all the days of her life.

The Memorial Service for Corrine “Coco” Burnett is being held on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Northwest Funeral Chapel, 6630 W. Hampton Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

*Noteworthy Healthcare administrator by Marquis Who’s Who

*Written with Research Assistance and Personal Narratives from by her sister Martina Williams Myles and Dana Little

Source: https://www.tuskegee.edu/

Photos provided by the family of the late Corrine “Coco” Burnett.