Burton, James Thomas

Tom Burton, age seventy, passed away on February 26, 20216. He is preceded in death by his wife, Chris Burton and his parents, James Dozier Burton and Elizabeth Pittman Burton. Tom was a loving husband, father, brother, and grandfather, who is survived by children, Jamie (Lauren) Burton of Nashville and Emily (Jeremy) Sanchez of Cannes, France; grandchildren, Reed, Sloane, Micah, Georgia, Luc, and Paul; brother John (Alice ) Burton of Nashville, TN.

Tom graduated from Joelton High School in Nashville, TN, and completed his Bachelor of Science degree from David Lipscomb College in 1968. Tom honored his country by serving in the 1st Battalion, 39th Artillery Regiment attached to the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam receiving the following honors: National Defense Service, Expert Marksmanship Qualification, Good Conduct, Vietnam Service Award, and Army Commendation.

After being discharged, he earned a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Tennessee in 1972. Tom is best known for his role as Executive Director for AGAPE for thirty-one years. He was a member of Brentwood Noon Rotary, where he served as president and led an effort to establish a bone marrow compatibility testing program that has tested more than 25,000 people. Tom was also a member of numerous local, regional, and national child and family services organizations, including the Tennessee Association for Childcare, the Christian Child and Family Services Association, the Christian Adoption Resource Exchange, the National Association of Social Workers and the Child Welfare League of America. In 2010, he received Lipscomb University’s annual Mary Morris Award recognizing one who demonstrates a high level of service to the community and church and who expands Christian principles in unconventional ways.

Tom was a member of Harpeth Hills Church of Christ where he served as a deacon and an elder. He will be remembered by friends and family as a man of faith with great wit who cared deeply for his family and for the underserved in the community.

Visitation will take place at Harpeth Hills Church of Christ, 1949 Old Hickory Blvd., Brentwood, TN 37027, on Monday, February 29, 2016, from 6-9 pm, and again on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, from 12”30 pm until the hour of service at 2:00 pm with minister Chris Smith officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Ken Neil, Stephen Burton, Jason Bryant, Dan Sissom, Gary Waller, Sr., and Stan Ezell. Honorary pallbearers are Jeremy Sanchez, Barrett Reed, Daniel Bryant, Chip Tumblin; present and former employees and board members of AGAPE; and former and present elders, ministers, and wives of the Harpeth Hills Church of Christ. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to AGAPE (agapenashville.org) or to the Micah Burton Legacy Project at Touch a Life Foundation (touchalifekids.org). Woodbine Funeral Home, Hickory Chapel, Directors. 615-331-1952.

Tom Burton of Agape in Nashville Celebrates 30 Years!

NASHVILLE, TN–In June AGAPE Executive Director Tom Burton celebrated thirty years of serving children and families Middle Tennessee. Burton was hired by the Board of Directors in 1982 based on the recommendation of late founder Howard Justiss. After earning a Bachelor of Science from David Lipscomb College in 1968, Burton served in an artillery unit attached to the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. After being discharged, he earned a Master of Science in Social Work from The University of Tennessee in 1972.

Prior to coming to work for AGAPE, he was the Assistant Director at Children’s Home of Lubbock in Lubbock, Texas. In addition to Burton’s thirty years with the agency, his wife Chris has been an integral part of the AGAPE staff for almost as long, working in the business office and overseeing the technology needs of the agency since 1984. Because of Burton’s dedicated and distinguished leadership, AGAPE has added seventeen affiliate counseling and social services offices across Middle Tennessee and has grown significantly through the support and partnership of numerous loyal financial donors.

In addition to his work at AGAPE, Burton serves as an elder at Harpeth Hills Church of Christ; and is active and has served in leadership roles in Brentwood Noon Rotary and numerous local, regional, and national child and family services organizations including: the Tennessee Association for Childcare, the Christian Child and Family Services Association, the Christian Adoption Resource Exchange, The National Association of Social Workers, and the Child Welfare League of America. In 2010 he received the Mary Morris Award, presented annually by Lipscomb University into someone who demonstrates a high level of service to the community and church and who exhibits vision in creating new avenues to expand Christian principles in unconventional ways.

Statements Regarding Tom Burton’s Thirty Years with AGAPE

“The past 30 years have validated our decision to bring Tom Burton to AGAPE beyond our most optimistic vision. He has built the agency that is now recognized as a leader and preferred source of assistance in both children’s services and family counseling. Thank you, Tom, for every life you have touched and made better because of your leadership.” James Vandiver—Former Board Member and Minister at Harpeth Hills Church of Christ

“Tom Burton and AGAPE Nashville are synonymous. He has led our organization in a way that other non- profits only dream of having leadership for. The number of people’s lives that have changed for the better thanks to Tom’s strategic leadership is unrivaled in this town. To him, we are eternally grateful.” Tim Bewley2012 AGAPE Board Chairman

“Mr. Burton has been an influence for good not only in AGAPE’s area of influence, but also throughout the State of Tennessee. His knowledge of child welfare has been very helpful to lawmakers in improving Tennessee’s laws for the welfare and protection of children.” Senator Douglas Henry

“The Nashville nonprofit sector has been blessed with a special number of caring, capable agency executives. These leaders have guided their organizations through the ups and downs of the business cycle, through the changing demography of Nashville, and through the many transitions of volunteer board leadership. Tom Burton has been one of the best; and we remain forever in his debt for the superb effort he has made and the difference he has created in our community.” Lewis Lavine President of the Center for Nonprofit Management

Christian Chronicle Longtime Christian children’s services advocate Tom Burton passed away in February at the age of 70.

A 1968 graduate of Lipscomb University and Vietnam War veteran, Tom began his career working with mentally disabled adults as director of The House of Friendship in Nashville, Tenn. In 1974, based on the recommendation of Agape’s founding executive director, Tom began work as a social worker at the Children’s Home of Lubbock. During his time in Texas, Tom realized his true passion was for the love and care of children.

Impressed with his leadership and organizational skills, Agape’s board of directors invited Tom to return to Nashville and serve as executive director in 1982.

From a donated space on Westwood Drive in Nashville, he began his work at Agape. In June, 1982, there were 14 children in foster care, three maternity clients and a new counseling program that already served 72 families during the first six months of that year. Under Tom’s direction, Agape outgrew its offices, resulting in two subsequent moves to larger facilities.

In 1992, with Tom’s vision and leadership, more than $2 million was raised to build the then state-of-the- art Justiss-Kirby Center where the agency’s home offices are now located. Tom was very proud that Agape did not have to borrow any money to build the new facility, and it remains debt-free to this date.

Tom was a member of Harpeth Hills Church of Christ in Brentwood, Tenn., where he served as a deacon and an elder. He also was a member of numerous local, regional and national child and family services organizations, including the Tennessee Association for Childcare, the Christian Child and Family Services Association, the Christian Adoption Resource Exchange, the National Association of Social Workers and the Child Welfare League of America.

In 2010, Tom received Lipscomb University’s annual Mary Morris Award recognizing those who demonstrate a high level of service to community and church and who expand, embrace and share Christian principles in unconventional ways.

Tom retired at the end of 2012 after serving more than 30 years as executive director for Agape. His wife Chris, who served by his side for almost his entire career, retired in 2013. Chris passed away in the summer of 2015.

To make a gift in memory of Tom, please visit www.agapenashville.org.