SPRINGFIELD - Since his appointment to Illinois' vacant U.S. Senate seat, photos of Roland Burris' already-completed tombstone have been widely circulated.

It contains engravings about his accomplishments, including being elected the first black official to hold statewide office in Illinois. Burris, 71, served as state comptroller from 1979 to 1991 and attorney general after that until 1995.

On Thursday, after testifying before the Illinois House committee considering Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment, Burris explained to reporters that his tombstone is already prepared because "I am a probate attorney."

"If I'm going to try to counsel people on preparing to leave this earth, and counsel them correctly, I have to also have to mine already prepared," he added.

Burris was appointed by Blagojevich to fill the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. He still faces legal challenges before he can go to Washington.