Mildred Barton was born in Beaumont, Texas, on February 23, 1933 to Ural Bonnette Smith and Buck Smith, and was called home by her Lord on June 17, 2017.
At a very early age, she became the organist at Magnolia Avenue Baptist Church. She was a graduate of French High School, Lamar State College (now Lamar University), where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Music. Mildred attended the University of Houston where she earned her Master’s Degree in Music Theory. She had a God-given talent for arranging music, she could play any song in any key and could also play a song after hearing it just once. Mildred was well-known in the world of musicians around the Beaumont area. She spent many years teaching music and choir at Amelia Elementary School and Forest Park High School. Her high school choirs earned sweepstakes at the UIL Contest at the local level, State Contest for the All-State Choir and State Solo Contest in Austin.
While at Lamar University, she was invited to play for a reception at the Governor’s Mansion in Austin. This was an honor which she cherished.
After fifteen years of teaching choir, she received her certification in the counseling field from McNeese State University. At that point, Mildred became a counselor/registrar at Forest Park High School and then West Brook High School. She remained in that position until her retirement.
Mildred met the love of her life, Neal Barton while both were teaching at Amelia Elementary School. They were married for more than fifty years and God blessed them with a son, Neal Barton Jr. who is married to wife, Renee, of Tyler, Texas.
Mildred was blessed with many cousins. She also stayed in contact with many of her students until her health began to fail.
She was a master at the piano but she was at her happiest playing the organ for her Lord at Westgate Memorial Baptist Church for fifteen years. Her church was extremely important in her life.
A gathering of Mrs. Barton’s family and friends will begin at 10:00 a.m., with her funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 20, 2017, at Westgate Memorial Baptist Church, 6220 Westgate Drive, Beaumont, with Dr. Raymond McHenry, officiating. A private family committal will follow at Garden of Memories Memorial Park, Lufkin, where she will rest next to her beloved Neal. Arrangements are handled by Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.
