Willa Robinson Burts (Willie Mae in many documents) was murdered on August 5th, 1973 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The 33-year-old school teacher was in town visiting family from Schaumberg, Illinois, where her husband and two young children had stayed behind. No one has ever been charged in her murder.

At 2:45am Willa and her sister-in-law Albertha were at the VFW Hall located at 202 W. 28th St. North celebrating Albertha’s 1958 Booker T. Washington High School class reunion. Willa was standing on the passenger side of a vehicle, talking to three people inside, when a gunshot suddenly rang out. Willa was the only one hit, the .22 caliber bullet entering her right arm and then lodging itself in her chest. Investigators believe the shot came from some nearby bushes. They were later quoted as saying, “No suspects, no solid leads.” in her case. One suspect was cleared in the investigation but no other suspects were ever identified.

Willa was born on June 7th, 1939 in Oklahoma. She had 4 brothers and 4 sisters and came from a large, loving family. She had most recently taught junior high classes back in Illinois and she was a beloved teacher. She was active in her community and in her church. She is missed.

Please call the Tulsa Police Department at 918-596-9222 with any information in the senseless murder of mother and teacher Willa Burts.