Viola was born September 27, 1947, to parents, Rebecca Coaxum and Andrew Brown in McClellanville, SC. She lived there along with her twin-sister, Ola (Robert) Maddox; brother, Samuel "Bub" (Verdell) Coaxum and younger sister, Martha Ann Coaxum. Viola confessed her life to Christ at an early age. Upon graduating from Lincoln High School, she followed in the footsteps of brother and cousins and moved to New York City, New York. New York City is where she began her life-long career as a Respiratory Therapist in the citys hospital system. Although the work was not always easy, she found fulfillment and great reward in her role of saving countless lives. In this rewarding career she met her beloved sister-friends, Susie McMillion, Carol (Winston) Cheaver, Laverne Stuckey and Juanita Lloyd Stanton. She also, by divine appointment, met William "Billy" Roy Burton, whom she married in 1981 and loved deeply until his passing. Their love was special and Viola never re-married. She enjoyed time spent with her family, friends and at Antioch AME Church where she sang on the choir. Violas life displayed her personal ethos, "work hard, play hard", which she devotedly followed, traveling the world with her children, son-in-law, and grandchildren in her retirement.

She had a serious side and did not mince her words - she said what she meant and meant what she said. But also, she loved to laugh and joke. One would know when she was at play when she would stick out her tongue, wink her eye and point at you in laughter. In her passing she is leaving many with countless stories of their good and fun-loving times with her. Viola found lifes simple pleasures to be most rewarding and occasionally enjoyed the union of a Pepsi and Oreos to make the days just a little bit sweeter. Violas life was the personification of strength, endurance and resilience as she cared for her elderly mother, raised her children as a single parent and relentlessly battled Alzheimers Disease. Her life serves as a testament to reaping what you sow as she labored most of life providing care to others, and she deservedly reaped good care from her family and friends to the day she passed.

Viola Burton was preceded in death by her husband; parents; younger sister, and, brother. She leaves to cherish her memories her son, Neil Derwyn Coaxum; daughter, Shantanice Vaxter; son-in-law, Christopher Vaxter; grand-daughters, Jordyn Vaxter and Sydney Vaxter; god-daughter, Ophelia (Mark) Savoy; her twin sister; and a host of other loving nieces, nephews, friends and relatives.

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Funeral Service
Aikens Funeral Home
Sunday, September 12, 2021
10:00 AM
2708 E Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Tampa, Florida 33610