Nellie Dean Downing Barton dies at age 102

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, May 26, 2009

TOMPKINSVILLE — Nellie Dean Downing Barton, 102, of Holland died May 25, 2009, at her home.

The Allen County native was born May 7, 1907. She graduated from Mount Zion High School in 1928, the first graduating class. She then attended Western Kentucky Teacher’s College and obtained a life certificate allowing her to teach. She got her degree in 1959. She taught for 44 years, the first nine in one-room schools. She was a member of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, where she taught the primary Sunday school class for many years. She was a daughter of the late John Aldridge Downing and Nannie Dee Siddens Downing and the wife of the late Tommy Clemons Barton. She was preceded in death by a sister, Bessie Broughton; and two brothers, Joe and Henry Downing.

Funeral is at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Holland, with burial in Mount Zion Cemetery. Visitation is from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. today and from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at T.W. Crow & Son Funeral Home in Scottsville. Visitation will continue from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Strode Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be made at www.twcrowfuneralhome

.com.

Survivors include a sister-in-law, Bertha Mae O’Grady of Indianapolis; several nieces and nephews, Burl Broughton and his wife, Earlene, and Larry Joe Downing and his wife, Charlotte, all of Scottsville, and Annice Conner and Sue Nell Harwood and her husband, Clyde, all of Holland; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.