Burton, Joe W.
Joe W. Burton was born September 7, 1907, in Miles, Texas, the eleventh of 12 children. He attended public schools and graduated from Hardin-Simmons University (B.A., 1929) and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Th., 1932). Hardin-Simmons later presented him with an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. He did additional coursework at the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism. He married Lula Grace Williams and had three children – Mary Lou, John, and Robert. Burton served as editor of Home Life magazine published by the Baptist Sunday School Board from 1947 until his retirement in 1972. Burton started his career at the Sunday School Board in 1946, after serving 10 years as Secretary of Education with the Home Mission Board. From 1947-1965, he was Secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention, and he held pastorates in Texas, Georgia, and Tennessee. Burton died in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1976.
This oral history interview was conducted at the Sunday School Board, SBC, by Marian Keegan, Archivist with the Dargan-Carver Library in 1972. In the interview, Burton describes his growing up years, education, and churches pastored prior to denominational service. He gives his impressions of circumstances which led to his coming to the Board in 1946 and his role and responsibilities as editor of Home Life magazine. Burton discusses the Board’s Family Life Conferences and Christian Home Week and his role as Secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1947-1965.
