By Father Noel C. Burtenshaw

She walked into one of the South's largest television stations in 1959. All she wanted was a job in the center of buzzing communications. Since she was a woman, WSB had the usual feminine-style jobs on their mind.

She was directed to the clerical desks and then directed to the traffic department. But Beverly Burton had no intention of being directed anywhere for long. Her goal was the art of being a director. Her imagination was running wild, they said. All too soon, they would humbly recant.

Since 1972, Beverly Burton, a native of Raleigh, has directed most of the varied and different programs at WSB. From the Fourth of July parade to election specials, from the daily local talk show "Today in Georgia" to the avidly-watched six o'clock news. She has commanded like a captain on the bridge. She also directs Atlanta's Catholic Mass which will be broadcast twice each month beginning in January.

Along with Immaculate Heart of Mary parishioner, Dolores McNamara, Beverly adds her eagle artistic eye to the sets for the Liturgy each month. As the time approaches to launch another celebration, she can be seen roaming the studio adding touches for the invincible camera to catch. Angels are checked, greenery is scrutinized, the choir is marshaled -- nothing escapes the demands of her preciseness and it shows in the finished beauty of the production.

But all that is an inquisitive hobby for Beverly. Her home is aloft in the control room, where, with one microphone she generals the army of technicians and sets the ancient rites in motion.

The floor manager is warned. "Ten seconds, tape is rolling, five four, three, two -- take." The light goes on, with melodious surge, the choir overtures another "show."

For the next 29-½ minutes, exhaustive concentration and furious smooth action is the lonely perch of Atlanta's first woman television director. The bevy of monitors lit up by her three cameras and stretched out before, give her a choice of shots. Beverly picks them, intermingles them, superimposes them and in an instant delivers the living color liturgical picture for home consumption. Her natural magical touch has become a legend for shut-ins viewing the Mass at home.

In 1977, much of Beverly Burton's artistic talent was rewarded when she won an Emmy Award for children's programming. Without any hesitation, we are happy to laud her efforts for the Catholic Mass. The show is a winner with Beverly at the helm.

On Christmas Morning at 10:30, Beverly's artistry will guide the Mass of Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan and on the first and third Sundays of each month, again her talented hand will rest on the Mass of the day. Although not a Catholic, Beverly says that this particular program brings a certain calm to her work. The reward is more than deserved.

Her meticulous care and professional example brings the same calm to all who are involved in the production of Atlanta's Catholic Mass.