In Memoriam: Beverly Barton by Peggy Webb

Today is the launch date for Beverly Barton’s latest romantic suspense, Dead by Morning.  It’s still unbelievable that Beverly won’t be showing up at the Heart of Dixie Reader’s Luncheon in Huntsville, Alabama this weekend to greet fans, hugs friends and sign copies of her new book.

Beverly died unexpected last Thursday, April 21^st.  I was sitting in the doctor’s office for a follow-up visit with the ear, nose and throat specialist when the call came in from Debra Webb, who is not only my dear friend but also another amazing romantic suspense author.  “The doctor will be here any minute,” I told Deb. “Can I call you back?”  Her reply forever changed the way I view my life. “Yes,” she said, “but I have to tell you that Beverly Barton had a heart attack this morning and died.”

  

How could that be? Beverly was only 64. She was full of plans, full of story ideas, full of life. She was expecting children and grandchildren home for Easter. She was reveling in her role of wife, mother, grandmother.

Nothing is certain. Not even the next breath.

I first met Beverly when I was a newly published author and she was an aspiring writer.  It was in the early 80s at a writers’ conference on the lovely campus of the University of North Alabama in Florence, only a short drive from Beverly’s hometown of Tuscumbia   I knew even then that she was destined for success. She sparkled from the inside out. She was full of enthusiasm for story telling, and excited about meeting people who wrote, talked about, and loved books.

By 1989 she had published her first book – Yankee Lover.  When she died she had written almost 70 books and was a New York Times best-selling author.

But Beverly was so much more than an accomplished and much-lauded author.  She was a beautiful woman with a smile that lit up the room, a generous spirit that allowed her to mentor aspiring writers, and a heart big enough to love not only family and dear friends but everyone who came in contact with her.

I was one of the lucky ones.  Though we lived in different states, I knew I could always count on her.  When I needed sound advice, I knew I could turn to Beverly.  And when I needed help, she was there. Once when my plane bypassed my hometown of Tupelo because of fog and landed in Tuscumbia, I called Beverly.  She picked me up in the middle of the night, in the middle of a storm. 

I spent the night in her home, and for those of knew her best, that meant lots of laughter. She had me rolling on the floor with her story of getting so disgusted with her computer, she jerked the cord out of the wall, then proceeded down the stairs, cord in hand, computer bumping along behind like a disobedient dog. When her husband looked up, startled, she told him, “Don’t say a word.” On the carport, she took his hammer and smashed the offensive computer to bit. Then she marched back inside, announced, “There. That’s done with,” and drove into town to get a new computer.

Beverly Barton was charming, spirited, witty, gracious, focused, hard-working, generous and talented.  She was one-of-a-kind and she has left a huge void not only in the publishing world but in the hearts of her family, friends, and fans.

I invite you to share memories of her and express your sympathy to her family on this blog.

Peggy Webb has been writing novels since 1985. She expresses her deepest sympathy to Beverly’s family. Along with the other Heart of Dixie writers, she weeps for the loss of a friend and fellow writer.