Ruth Pierce Burton, is a descendent of Ellis County pioneer families, was born February 3, 1916.

She and her late husband, Cecil Burton created the Gingerbread trail and she became know as “The Gingerbread Lady.” Made official in 2002, by the Waxahachie city council.
She has gained fame as a noted portrait artist and excelled in florals and landscapes.
In 1983 she was inducted into the Waxahachie Ex-students Hall of Fame for her accomplishments as an artist.
She was honored to be Waxahachie’s First Lady in 1993.
She received the “Historic Preservation Leadership Award” from Historic Waxahachie in 2004
She was a founder and charter member of the Ellis County Historical Museum and Art Gallery.
She has served on the boards for the Historical Museum, Ellis County Art Association, Ellis County Crippled Children, Ellis County Federated Clubs and Waxahachie City Zoning.
She was President of the Century Club in 1964.
In 1965, she was chairman of the Garden Club Award winning Beautification Project with the Waxahachie Post Office.
Ruth started her volunteer work early when she was the Director of Youth for the Waxahachie District of Methodist Church in the late ‘30’s. She is a member of the Fidelis Class of the First United Methodist Church.
Ruth has been a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Garden Club, Century Club, Ellis County Historical Museum and is still active in the Ellis County Art Association, Historic Waxahachie, Duncanville Review Club, and several bridge clubs. She has also been a graduate assistant for Dale Carnegie.

Ruth was most fortunate to have studied portraits under Dr. Julius Zsohar, then under Ramon Froman, who was often called the greatest portrait teacher of his era. Besides having lessons under these two, she has studied under Dorothy Rhea Crum, Julia Elliot, Kyle Bunch, A. Kelly Pruitt, Geneva Thorne, Electra Malone, Thelma Park, Connie Martin and Irby Brown, all of whom have contributed to abilities and desires by making Ruth a better artist.

Ruth was honored at the unveiling ceremonies for her portraits of William Lee Hastings, Clint Q. Smith and Savola Shackleford, each of which hang in public schools bearing their respective name. She has had several one-man shows. She was also honored at the unveiling of her portrait of Willie Nelson at the Jail House Museum in Hillsboro.
Ruth is the daughter of William and Doreecie Pitts Pierce and was born in Ferris, TX. She graduated from Waxahachie High School in 1933 and Married Cecil Burton in 1935. She had two sisters, Mildred Pierce Hiatt of Ferris and Marianna Pierce Frost of Denton. All of the above are deceased.
An avid reader and bridge player, she and Cecil traveled for many years where she painted on location in the United States, Canada and sketched in Hawaii, Mexico and Europe. She has had eleven one man shows, and won more than 100 ribbons. Her paintings are spread over the United States.

She has one daughter Olivia & Fred Harrington, 2 granddaughters:

Angela & Bob Heck of Midlothian and Rachel
Teenya & Alan Barnard of Rockport and Daniel and Blaire

Contact the ECAA at 972-937-3414
if you have any questions concerning
the artwork of Ruth Burton