Mr. Edd Laffon Barton II
Edd L. Barton II was born on May 6, 1944 to the late Edd Laffon Barton I and the late Dorothy Hill-Barton in Brewton, Alabama. Eddie, as he was affectionately called, was the second child born of seventeen. A daughter was born first, Martha Ann, then fifteen boys followed and at the end, finally another girl, Susan. Two sisters and six brothers including Dorothy, Gary, and Tony, also preceded him in death.
Eddie was smart, witty, and athletic. At the age of three, he and his sister Martha Ann (who was then five years old) were both stricken with polio. Eddie was sent to Mobile General Hospital in Mobile, Alabama where he was treated for his condition. While in Mobile being treated for this condition he received primary education, since his stay was long-term. He often told his siblings how well the nuns who were nurses at the hospital treated him. Eddie assisted his mother and her grandmother, the late Susannah Williams, with the other children at home. He said, “The babies kept coming, a new one every year.” And he loved all of them!
He attended Pine Grove Elementary School and from there he attended Southern Normal High School. At Southern Normal he was an honor student, graduating in 1963 under the tutorage of Morgan O. Rowser and the directorship of Dr. K. B. Young. Eddie also attended Tuskegee Institute where he joined the ROTC program and after leaving school he merged from the ROTC program to the Army National Guard.
While living in Atlanta, Georgia, Eddie was employed with General Motors for a time. Later he moved back to Brewton and was employed with Alabama Ductile Iron Company. Beginning in 1984, Eddie enjoyed fulfilling employment with Mrs. Marie Downing of Brewton until his retirement.
Eddie was married to his high school sweetheart, Arretha M. Davis, for over 45 years. To this union two children were born: Carol Michelle Barton (John) Woods and Eddie Laffon Barton III. Other survivors include his daughter, Jane LaToi (Travis) Milton, all of Brewton, AL, all of whom he leaves to cherish the memories of his life.
Other survivors left to cherish his memory are one sister, Susan J. Barton and a sister-in-law, Melissa A. Barton both of Brewton, AL; six brothers: Phillip C. (Lola) Barton, Augusta, GA; Everette S. (Vickie) Barton, Douglasville, GA; Fred P. (Cheryl) Barton, Jack W. (Nettie) Barton, Cary (Gloria) Barton, and Blakely C. (Marty) Barton, all of Brewton, AL; six grandchildren; one great aunt, Annie B. Thomas, Brewton, AL; three aunts: Rebecca P. Prentiss, Seattle, WA, Ruby L. Barton (Rick), Forkland, AL and Mary R. Barton, Brewton, AL; two uncles: Bert (Shirley) Barton, Brewton, AL and Douglas M. (Dorothy) Barton, Chicago, IL; a devoted friend, Willie J. Benjamin of Brewton, AL and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends…too numerous to mention by name.