Julia Irene Burton

JULIA CATES BURTON; We, her family, wish to celebrate the life of Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother, Julia C. Burton, who passed away peacefully in her sleep on 10 July 2013. "MIMA", as she was affectionately called by her grandchildren, was born in Anniston, Alabama, on 26 December 1919. After graduating from High School in Anniston she moved to Birmingham to enter Business College. Completing all the required courses she began her career as an administrative assistant in the medical field working for Drs. Prescott Sr. and Jr. in Woodlawn. This career was cut short however, when she met and married B.F. Burton. Shortly before the birth of their second child her husband joined the Army and served in the European Theatre of Operations until the end of World War II making them charter members of America's Greatest Generation. After the war she was a great assistant to her husband as he formed BF Burton & Sons Heating Company. Along with handling all of the administrative functions of the newly formed company Julia found time to raise seven children, be President of the Elyton School PTA and later the West End High School PTA. She also served as the Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star, attended Walker Memorial Methodist Church. In later years she was the Chairman of the Administrative Board at Haygood Methodist Church. Julia was always engaged in activities that helped other people. After being widowed and closing the heating company she became active in the Miss Alabama Pageant and served as a traveling companion for Miss Alabama for over five years. In honor of her service there is a scholarship, bearing her name that is presented to one of the contestants each year. Her main focus, however, has always been her family. Receiving Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age she was determined to raise her family in the Christian faith. Her family always gathered at her home on Christmas morning. This was a tradition and Julia would start preparing for it weeks in advance with her homemade biscuits prepared last and served hot. With all of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren with her, it was her favorite time of the year. And, as we celebrate her life we are thankful for these, and all of the memories that she left with us, and the lasting impact she has had on all of our lives. We loved her, and we feel blessed to have had her in our lives. She will be greatly missed. She is preceded by her husband, B.F. Burton, parents, Ross B. and Myrtle Irene Cates, sisters Margaret Russell of Kansas City Missouri, and Myrtle Young of Rock Springs, Wyoming, and one brother, Ross Cates of Lake Charles, Louisiana. She was the second of seven children and she is survived by three sisters: Evelyn Townsend (William), Jerry Tharrington (Kin) and Patricia Irwin. She is also survived by her seven children: Irene Collins (Hank), Jean Wilson (Jerry), Jack Burton (Lynne), Benjamin Burton, Pamela Luker (Tommy), Susan Harkins (Lee), Rebecca Riha (Ray), fourteen grandchildren, April McAnnally, Melissa Jones, Dana Garvin, Jennifer McCraw, Jeanne Wilson, Lori LaBoone, Kim Crouch, Mandy Windham, Alicia Luker, Joseph Luker, Jacob Luker, Benjamin Burton, Melany Rogers, Samantha Riha and seventeen great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Her funeral service will be held at 12:00 p.m. Noon Friday, July 12, 2013 at Ridout’s Elmwood Chapel with burial in Elmwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until service time at the funeral home. In closing the family would like to give thanks Comfort Care Hospice for the professional and attentive care they gave our mother and special thanks for all of the “Ruths” who served as sitters for her. Arrangements under the direction of Johns-Ridout's Mortuary-Elmwood Chapel, 205-251-7227 in Birmingham, AL.