Childcare center naming gift honors Burton family matriarch

In a heartfelt tribute to a beloved wife, mother and community advocate, Charles Burton, president and owner of i.g. Burton Auto Group, has made a generous pledge to Bayhealth to name the Bayhealth Childcare Center in honor of his mother, Ann L. Burton. This contribution reflects Ann’s lifelong dedication to helping families and children, ensuring that her legacy of care and compassion continues to impact the community for generations to come.

Ann Burton and her husband, David G. Burton, moved to Milford after David’s Army assignment in Germany. While he helped run the family’s well-known car dealership, Ann devoted herself to raising their four children. Originally from Illinois, Ann was passionate about planting roots in her new community. She actively volunteered with Catholic Charities, and later earned her master’s degree in counseling, turning her passion for helping others into a full-time career. Her work with young mothers, foster care and adoption left a lasting impact on countless families in the region.

“As a local, family-run business since 1908, we wanted to honor Ann’s legacy in a way that reflects her dedication and passion for the community,” said Burton. “Behind the scenes, she brought a lot of dedication, care and guidance to those who needed it most. This is an opportunity to tell her story and honor her not just for what she did, but for who she was – proof that impact isn’t always loud but is always lasting.”

The new Bayhealth Ann L. Burton Center for Children will serve as a vital resource for team members who work at the Bayhealth Sussex Campus, offering a safe and nurturing environment for children through age 11. This new facility is in addition to the accredited and award-winning childcare center at the Bayhealth Kent Campus. The Ann L. Burton Center for Children will include age-appropriate classrooms, play areas, gardens and support space for an additional 102 children. This new center is also designed to care for children of families in the community needing emergency care or treatment.

"We are overjoyed to announce with the Burton family the Bayhealth Ann L. Burton Center for Children at the Sussex Campus,” said Bayhealth Child Care & Early Learning Center Director Brenda Kibler. “Mrs. Burton was a lifelong advocate for education. In partnership with their generosity, and in the spirit of her memory, we will be providing an exceptional caliber of childcare for generations to come."

“The community has been great to us, and we want to give back. The reason we have been successful is because of the people that live here, and we want to help take care of them,” said Burton. “We want great healthcare for those who reside in central and southern Delaware, and we hope this additional benefit will help attract clinicians and their families to the area.”

Bayhealth is incredibly grateful to Charles Burton for his meaningful contribution, and he hopes his gift will inspire other community members to support this growth and access to healthcare in central and southern Delaware.