Grandmother passed away peacefully on a rainy Thursday night in late October with her husband, her children and their spouses by her side. She knew where she was going, and she was ready. I think that is all that any one can ask for in terms of "how" they leave this world and enter eternity.
For the last three years, since we moved to Arlington, my kiddos and I have had the privilege of visiting with Grandmother and Pop at their home almost weekly (except when the kids were sick or Grandmother was in the hospital). We would also go by on many weekends, so that our Daddy could come, too! Brandon and I are both so thankful that we (and our kids) had that time to spend with both Grandmother and Pop. Our kids love going to their house, and every time we went by, I got to enjoy numerous stories of a lifetime of military life, childcare experiences, early marriage stories, and stories about her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. Many of those stories and lessons will stay with me forever. I am very grateful for all of the Mommy encouragement that Grandmother gave me. I don't ever remember leaving her house without her telling me in some way that I was a great Mom. Those words always meant so much to me--especially after Brandt when I was so sick and feeling like I was a zombie that couldn't give her best to any one! :)
Of course, Avaree always asked her about her G-Pops when he was a little boy. We found out that he was not always a fan of green beans, and Avaree just thought that was hilarious. :) Storytelling is such a gift to the next generation. It was once the primary vehicle for history, and now it breathes a little bit of the past into the new, and it allows families to carry on the legacies of those that have gone before through continuing to tell their stories.
Nothing made her light up like a little one. Each of my babies were so very fond of her! Brandt would just sit in her lap and stare at her every time we went over there--at least until he started scooting and crawling.
The first time that we went to Grandmother and Pop's house after the week of the funeral and everyone was gone but Pop, Felicity walked in and immediately asked where Grandmother was. It took her a few seconds, but when Pop asked her where she was, she said, "In Heaven with Jesus."
I love that she knows that.
Brandon got to be in the room when Grandmother took her last breath, and I know that he will always remember that. He also got to record a couple of songs for her that she loved, and the last words that she spoke that could be understood were, "I want to hear that." She was referring to Brandon's song after someone had turned the volume down. I know that those two things will be with him forever, and I'm so thankful for that.
The neatest thing about Grandmother's passing is that she gathered us all together, and she was able to speak blessing over each of us a few months before she died. The words she spoke were so precious, and I can only imagine how much they meant to her as well. That was such a gift to her kids, their spouses, her grandkids, and their spouses.
Grandmother's funeral service was full of laughters, singing, and joy. It was absolutely perfect.
As I include some of my favorite pictures in this post, I also want to include the obituary. I had the privilege of sitting at the table with Pop and Martha (and Eric and Tess and just about every one else at some point during the day), and I just wrote down what they were saying about Grandmother.
Obituary
On Thursday night, October 22, 2015, Cecilia Ann Barton, 79,
peacefully took her last breath on Earth and entered heaven’s gates with great joy.
Born in Dallas, Texas, on February 5, 1936, Ann was the
seventh daughter of Reverend Mitchell and Willie Biggs. She was preceded in
death by her parents, four brothers: William, James, Jerry, and David Biggs,
and one sister, Wanda Biggs Morrison.
The bride of Elvis Lee Barton for sixty-one years, Ann’s
most treasured roles were wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister,
friend and Nanny to countless children that she loved as her own. Elvis and Ann
married at Sours Baptist Church in Irving, Texas, on June 27, 1954. Upon their
marriage, they moved to Hawaii, where Elvis soon left for his first US Coast
Guard assignment. As a young, twenty-year old newlywed, Elvis describes Ann as
the perfect service wife. She stayed by herself in Hawaii, knowing no one,
while her husband served for six months in Japan. Many women would have balked
at this, but she did not. Her selfless service continued to her family as she became
a mother and raised her two children during his service in the United States
Coast Guard and The United States Air Force. Throughout their married lives,
Elvis and Ann lived in Hawaii, Kansas, Texas, Florida, Germany, Kansas,
Thailand, and Virginia, before ultimately making their home in Arlington,
Texas.
Ann spent her life loving her family and caring for the
people that she loved the most. As described by one of her precious
granddaughters, “Grandmother fiercely loved all who were hers with a love that
has no bounds and knows the reaching depths of a vast ocean. She stood fast
with our Lord Jesus in a world which meant to break her strong spirit, and
right down to the end she would lift her hands and praise God for his sweet
mercies.” A faithful member of Mayfield Road Baptist Church in Arlington,
Texas, for over twenty-seven years, Ann served as nursery coordinator and
cooked more meals for people than she was ever asked to do. She also served in
The Texas Professional Home Child Care Association and as president of the
Arlington Childcare Association for many years.
Ann is survived by her husband, Elvis, of Arlington, Texas; two
children: daughter, Tess Halbert, and husband, Tommy, of Arlington, Texas; Son,
Eric Barton, and wife, Martha, of Bryan, Texas; six grandchildren: Whitney
Parlin, and husband, Brad, of Highland Village, Texas; Brandon Barton, and wife,
Allison, of Arlington, Texas; Darrin Barton, and wife, Jamie, of Houston,
Texas; Soney Day, and husband Chris, of Little Elm, Texas; Tawney Ann Davis, and
husband, Chris, of Dallas, Texas; nine great- grandchildren: Dane Parlin,
Avaree Barton, Paige Parlin, Tanner Day, Felicity Barton, Blair Barton, Brandt
Barton, Owen Day, and Baby Girl Barton due in November. She is also survived by
four sisters: Juanita Kolenovsky, of Arlington, Texas; Dorothy Nelson, of Mt.
Vernon, Texas; Jo Churchill, of Houston, Texas; and Miriam Spann, of Arlington,
Texas; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, great- nieces, great-nephews, and
countless babies that she has loved as Nanny over the years.
Visitation will be held at Laurel Land Funeral Home, 6000
South R. L. Thornton Fwy,
Dallas, Texas, 75232, on Tuesday, October 27, 2015,
from 6-8 PM. Funeral services will be held at Mayfield Road Baptist Church,
1701 E. Mayfield Rd., Arlington, Texas, 76014, on Wednesday, October 28, 2015,
at 10 AM. Burial will follow at DFW
National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, Texas 75211, at 1:30 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that memorial
contributions be made to Mayfield Road Baptist Church, 1701 E. Mayfield Rd.,
Arlington, Texas, 76014, or UT Southwestern Medical Center, P.O. Box 910888, Dallas,
Texas, 75391-0888. Donations can also be made online at
www.utsouthwestern.edu/donatenow
to support Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.
The family is so thankful for the love, prayers, and support
from so many. If there is anything that Ann would want for people to take away
from her life, it is that she loved Jesus with her whole heart, mind, and soul,
and she would invite you to know him as well. In closing, out of her abundance
of love for children, Ann would love for you to remember one of her favorite
verses from Matthew 19:14, “ Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me,
and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
***************************************
Last Christmas, Grandmother and Pop came over mid-morning on Christmas morning on their way to have lunch out. The girls were so excited that they got to show them their Christmas jammies. :) This year, Grandmother will experience Christmas like never before.
*******************************
The week of Grandmother's visitation and funeral was full of family, and it was such a sweet time, but Mommy was still very weak, so I resorted to letting Avaree help me with Brandt, just so I could go to the bathroom. ;) He thought it was hilarious.
Felicity and Brandt always snuggle after nap. :)
Avaree and I rested while the babies slept.
Brandon and I went to the visitation by ourselves, but we took the whole family to the funeral. I thought my babies looked so precious for Grandmother's funeral.
Grandmother would have had a fit over Brand't little sport coat the the girls' coordinating outfits. :)
After the service, the sweet people and Grandmother and Pop's church fed us, and Brandt was very much in love with their home cooking. :)
Meanwhile, this little lady was looking too grown up.
Brandt got to love on Aunt Suzie!
…and Uncle Scott! Of course, this was right after he crawled down the table!!!
Papa and Niecey took our babies home to take a nap, while we went to the graveside service at the National Cemetery. (Thank you Papa and Niecey!)
It was such a beautiful service.
All of the sweet family and friends gathered to honor Grandmother at her graveside service.
It was so beautiful, and when Daddy led everyone in singing "I'll Fly Away," it was just so very special. Everyone in this family can sing, and it was such a beautiful tribute to Grandmother. It gave me chills!
Uncle Darrin holding two roses to bring to his two girls at home.
Mommy and Daddy.
We rode to the graveside service with Uncle Darrin, but we rode back with the family in the limo. Avaree was thrilled to ride with Gigi.
The cemetery grounds are just beautiful.
;
These three were troopers!
…and here's one more of my oldest beauty!
As the graveside service was ending, I turned to look out to the other side, and this is what I saw. What a beautiful place.
I'm so thankful for the legacy that Grandmother has left with each of us.
What a privilege it was for me to be counted as one of hers.
Peace.
I love that God will always make everything right.
Grandmother has a new body, and she's forever whole and praising her God.
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