Burton honored for dying in line of duty 100 years ago as police chief
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Tracy Crunkleton Wilson, Trudy Crunkleton, Rabun County Sheriff Mark Gerrells, Clayton Police Chief Andy Strait and Clayton Mayor pose with the plaque to honor John Burton, the Clayton police chief who was fatally shot 100 years ago. Wilson and Crunkleton, the current Clayton city manager, are the great granddaughters of Burton. Gerrells, who researched how to get Burton honored, is a former Clayton police chief.
John E. Burton paid the ultimate sacrifice for Clayton 100 years ago, but for those 10 decades his memory was only still in existence through some family stories that have been passed down for generat…
