Patricia Clark Burton, age 69, left her earthly body on August 26, 2018 following her year-long battle with cancer.She passed peacefully in her home, surrounded by her husband and children.
Born on March 31, 1949, the daughter of the late Horace Clark and Martha Gibson, Pat was a lifelong resident of Vicksburg, MS.She attended school at Redwood and graduated from Warren Central High School, where she excelled at basketball and was known for her quick wit. She later went to work at International Paper where she remained employed for the next twenty-five years, until her retirement. While at the I.P., she met her husband, David Burton, with whom she went on to share more than three decades, having recently celebrated their thirty third anniversary.
Pat had a charitable heart and giving nature. She was the "Queen of Hospitality." If you came for a visit, she made sure you had a full belly and a full heart.She had the gift of giving; always knowing just what gift or "little something" would lift one's spirits.She cooked food that warmed the soul and would lavish it upon her guest at every opportunity.
Pat was famous for her larger than life personality.She made people laugh on a dime and was the first to get out and dance.She was theatrical in everything she did. She had the habit of talking with her hands and using dramatic facial expressions that everyone found humorous and loved.She was truly the life of the party with an incredible capacity to make others laugh and feel special.She was real.With Pat, you always knew where you stood with her.With that, sometimes came more laughter as she was like "Julia Sugarbaker" most of the time but could go "Madea" when she felt necessary.As someone recently said, "She was a REAL real person."
Pat is survived by her husband, David Burton; her children, Mark Halloran, Michael Halloran, and Kelli Tucker; her grandchildren, Taylor Halloran, Beaux Halloran, and Sam Tucker; and her many many MANY loved ones from Mississippi to Texas.
Celebration of her life will be held at Crossway Church in Vicksburg, MS. On Wednesday, August 29, 2018 with visitation from10am-11am. The service will begin at 11am with a reception to follow.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN or Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital of Jackson, MS, as both were dear to her heart.