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Amy Whitlock Burton, affectionately known to many as AA, died peacefully on May 7, 2024, at UAB Hospital in Birmingham Alabama at the age of 43. Amy was born October 18, 1980, to Jennifer (Thomas) Duffey Moore and the late Tommy Whitlock. She grew up in Valley and graduated from Valley High School in 1999. She started college while also working at Hester Tag and Label. She graduated from Troy University in 2005, returned home to the Valley area, and started her new job as a teacher at Bob Harding (Shawmut) Elementary School. She taught various grade levels during her tenure and developed many enduring friendships during this time with her coworkers. She would remain in this position until 2019 when she felt a calling and changed roles to become a Special Education Teacher at Huguley Elementary and then WF Burns. It was during this time that she met the most challenges in her work but also experienced the greatest rewards. Many of her students loved her class and have expressed their cherished moments recently with the family. Many have referred to her as their AA.

     Amy met her husband, John Burton in 2001, and they were married in December 2008. Amy was born to be a mother and desired so much to nurture and raise a family. After many years of perseverance and faithful prayer, the couple welcomed their son Drew into their family. She was always his biggest supporter and encouraged him in all his endeavors. Amy was very active in the community in the Junior Variety Club, Valley Baptist Church, and helping to tutor her students that she cared so deeply for. Amy enjoyed worshipping the Lord, travelling with family and friends, and tailgating with friends at Auburn football games. She cherished lifelong friendships through work and church, and she loved spending time with her family. Even as her illness progressed, she still was able to spread joy and love, as well as being content with the many blessings in her life. She dealt with even the toughest situations with such strength, determination, and dignity. She would always think about helping others above her own needs as well as offer words of encouragement and advice. Her heart was full of love, mercy, compassion and understanding. As family and friends are left to navigate this life without her, these precious qualities of hers will remain with us and will guide, inspire, challenge and lift us up.

     Amy is survived by her mother, Jennifer (Thomas) Moore; husband, John Burton; son, Drew Burton; siblings, Carol (William) Yin, Kelli (Ken) Hodge, Russell (Carla) Moore, Anna (Cole) Watkins; Carrie (Mike) White, Roy Burton; father-in-law Durward Burton; uncle, Dennis Duffey; aunt, Anne Moore; nieces and nephews, Christine, Bucky, Dawson, Sawyer, Quinn, Rachel (Josh), and Rebekah (Quinton); along with 6 great nieces and nephews and a number of other relatives and very close friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Tommy Whitlock; her mother-in-law, Lee Burton; uncle, Gerald Moore; aunt, Nancy Cantrell.

     Amy and her family wish to express heartfelt thanks to Dr Brandon Johnson at Spencer Cancer Center in Opelika, Dr’s Gupta and Haller-Smith at UAB and Dr Frumovitz at MD Anderson for their loving and compassionate care.

     There will be visitation from 6 to 8 pm Eastern on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Valley Baptist Church and a funeral service at Valley Baptist Church at 2 PM Eastern on Friday, May 10, 2024, with Pastor Nathan Lawrence officiating. Flowers are welcome or memorial donations may be sent in her name to Valley Baptist Church.

     Please visit Amy’s Memorial Tribute page at www.johnsonbrownservicefh.com to leave a kind word for her family, to share a memory of Amy or to light a Remembrance Candle in her memory.

     Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home of Valley directing.