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  Each month we will feature a woman from Hendersonville, NC. Through these monthly features we hope that you will learn a little more about your friends and neighbors. 
Knowing Me
Susan Chitwood Barton
Susan Chitwood Barton is cofounder of the law firm Chitwood and Fairbairn, P.A. She is a resident of Henderson county and a member of Mills River Presbyterian Church. Her law firm's area of expertise is Social Security Disability law and Veterans' Disability claims and appeals. Cofounder Attorney Holly Fairbairn is a Board Certified Specialist in Social Security Disability law. Attorney Don McCown handles veterans' claims.

Although now semi retired and of counsel to the firm, Susan continues to lend her experience to the firm by consulting with clients on a limited basis usually in the Henderson county satellite office. The main office is located in Asheville.

Susan's interest in disability law dates back to 1978 when she was a paralegal with Legal Services Organization. She became a licensed attorney in 1981 after graduating from Indiana University School of Law , Bloomington, Indiana (former home of Coach Bobby Knight) . She joined her stepfather Jack H. Potts of Transylvania County in the practice of law in Brevard, NC in 1984. Susan began her own practice in 1985 and the rest is history.

Susan would be happy to arrange for one of the attorneys  from Chitwood and Fairbairn to speak to groups of people interested in learning more about Social Security or Veterans' Disability. More information about the firm is available at www.wncdisability.com.

Susan is quite committed to the welfare of animals.  In 1991 Susan and an attorney friend founded a rescue, no kill organization called Noahs Arc in then Dandridge, Morristown area of Tennessee.  It can be found on www.Petfinder.org.  There is also a Noahs Arc in Brevard, NC which provides low cost spay neuter for area cats and dogs. Susan's friend, Patty Tillis Brown, founded this location of Noahs Arc. Susan supports Henderson County's Community Partnership for Pets. Susan's firm is a sponsor of the Animal Compassion Network.


What inspired you to become an attorney?

I have a strong sense of empathy for the sick, the confused and the downtrodden. I believe that people who feel good, do good. I do what I can to help.

What do you do for fun?

I  love to travel.  I wish I could travel more but I am limited by an impairment.  Just being driven around our beautiful mountains any season of the year is a delight. I love to watch birds and grow a small garden.

What was your most exciting moment?
I saw a UFO.

Good book recommendation:
God Bless you Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut.

What is something you can't live without?
My pets, my children and my friends.

Best advice:
Do no harm. Leave this world a better place for having been here.

What is your favorite childhood memory:
My summer vacations at Lake Owen , Cable, Wisconsin. Picking wild blueberries and then blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup. Pancakes were cooked on wood fueled kitchen stove.

What is your favorite place in Hendersonville:

Mountain Pie Company, Monte's Subs, Never Blue, BJ Ramer's 'Team Ecco Ed-Venture Center' on Main Street , the new Harris Teeter (even though it isn't open yet) and my home in Hendersonville.

Describe yourself in one word: ebullient

What is your biggest challenge?

Living and aging with impairments

What was your first job?
Selling girdles and bras at JC Penneys.

What is your biggest pet peeve:

Substandard stewardship of our environment-little things: don't litter, recycle, grow some vegetables, treat your animals as family, etc., etc.  Everyone go green or at least become a little greener.

What was your proudest moment?

Finishing second in the nation in a Latin competition and hatching my daughter Jessica.

What do you think Henderson County would benefit from?

A windmill

                       Susan may be reached by leaving a message @ 828-252-0492.



What is something you think the Henderson County needs?

Higher paying jobs so that more people could make a living wage and affordable housing so that they could spend money on housing and still have money left over for other things.
  CHITWOOD and FAIRBAIRN P.A.

Social Security and Veterans Disability