A native of Jones County, North Carolina, he attended the local schools, graduating from J.H. Rose Senior High School — Class of 1971. Furthering his education, he attended Fayetteville State University, where he earned a B.S. degree in Sociology and later the Masters degree in City Planning was conferred at Georgia Tech University.

Mr. Burney was employed by the City of Jacksonville as the city's First African American  Director of  Urban Planning.  As an Urban Planner, he was responsible for many facets of Jacksonville's expansion projects, which included; the Mayo Clinic, the Avenues Mall , Baymeadows Road and the Dames Point Bridge. He retired after rendering over forty-four years of dedicated service.

Other affiliations include being a faithful member of St. Paul A.M.E. Church, where he served as a Trustee and New Members Orientation Facilitator; Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Upsilon Lambda Chapter, where he served for over fifty years; Charter Member of Mu Zeta Chapter — University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and Fayetteville State University Alumni Association.

He was predeceased by his parents, Owen Burney, Sr. and Mrs. Eunice Williams Burney; sister, Naomi Tucker; brothers, Ronald Burney and Lonnel Burney.

On March 24, 2022, Mr. Calvin Leon Burney, Sr. went home to be with the Lord.  He leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife, The Honorable Betty Seabrook Burney; children, Dr. Calvin Leon Burney, Jr. (Dr. Tashlai) and Craig Burney; grandson, Calvin Leon Burney, III; siblings, Owen Burney (Rosa) of Greenville, NC and Terrance Burney (Laura) of Apex, NC; aunt, Ms. Frances Williams of Newark, NJ; uncle, Oresley Williams (Rosa) of Jones County, NC; sisters-in-law, Mrs. Harriet Jarrett, Evangelist Earline Floyd, Mrs. Dorothy Johnson, Mrs. Helen Deas and Mrs. Priscilla Jenkins (Glenn); brothers-in-law, Oliver Seabrook, Jr. (Anita) and The Honorable Larry Seabrook (Maria); devoted cousin, Orlando Marshburn (Sabrina); a number of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.