Pearl Orton

aligncenterYoungest daughter of Mansfield and Julia Sharp Drumwright, died August 18, 2009 at Baton Rouge General Hospital. Pearl was born December 31, 1926 in Livingston Parish, Holden, Louisiana and graduated Valedictorian of Holden High School in 1943. In 1946, she received a Bachelor of Music degree from Southeastern Louisiana College in Hammond, Louisiana where she was a member of the Alpha Sigma Tau sorority. She earned a master of Music Education degree from Louisiana State University in 1948. From 1948 to 1957, Pearl was Elementary Music Supervisor for East Baton Rouge Public Schools. She married Edward Whitfield Orton on December 21, 1954. She taught music briefly in Lincoln Parish Public Schools at Choudrant and Hillcrest Elementary Schools. Pearl taught music for the Ector County Independent School District in Odessa, Texas at Austin Elementary School from 1962 to 1969, and she was a guidance counselor at Permian High School in Odessa from 1969 until her retirement in 1987. In 1994 after the death of her husband, Pearl returned to Baton Rouge where she remained active as an Associate member of the Music Club of Baton Rouge, and with her friends, and wonderful large family. Professional and civic memberships include the Sigma Alpha Iota professional music sorority, Louisiana Music Teachers Association in which she held the office of state secretary for 1954-1956, National Music Educators Association, Texas Classroom Teachers Association, Delta Kappa Gamma, and the Texas Personnel and Guidance Association. Pearl was a licensed professional counselor of the Texas Association for Counseling and Development. She was a member of St. Johns Episcopal Church in Odessa Texas. She is survived by Sister, Vivia Drumwright Efferson of Baton Rouge; son Charles Orton, daughter in law Connie, and grandson Andrew of Minneapolis, Minnesota; son Robert Orton, daughter in law Martha, and granddaughter Emily of Garland, Texas, and life long friend Dr. A. Duchein Cazedessus Caz. Private services will be held at Resthaven Gardens of Memory Funeral Home.