InTucker Magazine

Citizen of the Month – Barbara Luton

Barbara Luton is a quiet force who gets things done in Tucker and the surrounding areas. Barbara and her husband Frank moved to the Smoke Rise area in 1987, long before it became part of Tucker. Never seeking the spotlight, she is always one of the first to volunteer or take a leadership role when something needs to be done, but she never seeks the spotlight.

A retired schoolteacher, her current involvement in local schools includes reading to children at Smoke Rise Elementary, heading up the “Take a Veteran to School” program, and various other projects.

Within the Stone Mountain Woman’s Club, a local service organization, Barbara has held nearly every leadership position. Many in the community will recognize her efforts on The Art of Nature Garden Tour, which takes place in May. The Garden Tour features gardens in Tucker, Smoke Rise, and Stone Mountain, and raises funds to support the club’s many charitable projects. Barbara is always on the lookout for interesting and amazing gardens and would love to hear of some new gardens to feature. She can often be seen in the Stone Mountain Woman’s Club tent at Tucker Days.

Barbara also serves on The Smoke Signal News as a writer and a manager of the flyer inserts. She loves reading and encourages others to read with an active book club. She is also active in Smoke Rise Baptist Church and the Mountain Mums Garden Club . Recently, she helped organize a fundraiser/alliance with Wine and Whimseys, a Tucker Main Street business, to help support the community.

Barbara’s style of leadership in getting people involved in their community is uniquely hers. She is never the loudest voice, but the most direct, getting immediately to the point. It usually ends with “Will you do it?” There are very few who can say “no” to Barbara. With her many years of contributions to our community, we all know that we can count on her. Barbara has proven herself over and over again and is truly deserving of the Citizen of the Month recognition.

Nominated by Pat Soltys