She was preceded in death by her brothers: Bennie Elder Payne and Charles Milton Payne and step-mother Runette Butler Payne.
Survivors include her children: Rhonda (Chris) Herring, Sheryl Stritt; brother: Ray Payne (Patricia); 5 grandchildren: Andrew Herring, Brett (Mikela) Herring, Sara Stritt, Stephen Stritt, and Will Stritt.
Annie Beth was a professional homemaker and mother possessing a true servant's heart. She had a unique way of being able to love any child or animal. An honor graduate of Bogart High School, she went on to Business College to obtain an Associate's Degree in Accounting and Secretarial work. She worked at Rohr Aircraft in Winder after her graduation. Her marriage to Willie turned her into a world traveler as a devoted USAF military wife and mother living in Spokane, WA, Las Vegas, NV and Seville, Spain, before returning to put down roots in Oconee County where she raised her family. She may be remembered as a lunch lady at Oconee County High School, the patient lady at the JCPenney catalog desk, the tireless accounts and billing clerk at the Athens Banner Herald, the kind voice inquiring about crops as a USDA -National Agricultural Statistics Service enumerator, the kind arms who cared for children at Bogart First Baptist church nursery, or in her later work years at Kids R Kids. The most important thing was her love of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was a member of Bogart First Baptist church and lived her faith quietly and joyfully.
The family would like to thank St. Mary's Hospice for their superior care of their mother and her family for the past 20 months. A special thank you in love to Janet Farmer and Clanisha Turner, her personal caregivers, and all previous sitters and companions.
Donations in memory of Mrs. Barton can be made to Alzheimer's/Dementia Care Research, Bogart First Baptist Church, or Gideons International.
Funeral services will be held Friday January 7, 2022 at 2:00 pm in the Smith Memory Chapel. Rev. Ted Tedder will officiate. Burial will follow at Barrow Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm.
The family kindly requests everyone to wear a mask if attending the service of their mother.
Smith Funeral Home, Winder, has charge of arrangements.
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