Betty Fleetwood Barge

Betty Fleetwood Barge passed away Saturday, August 6, 2016. Born July 23, 1923 in Cartersville, GA to Beulah May Smith Fleetwood and Milton Luther Fleetwood, Betty was predeceased by her beloved husband Otis Alvin Barge, Jr. with whom she shared 67 years of marriage. Together they modeled unconditional love for each other and all whom they knew. She was also predeceased by her beloved son, Otis Alvin Barge III.

Betty graduated from Cartersville High School as valedictorian of her class of 1940 and received her A.B. degree in Journalism from the University of Georgia in 1943. She was President of Delta Delta Delta sorority, Women’s Editor of the Red and Black, a member of the Varsity Debate team, President of the Freshman Class, and Treasurer of Women’s Panhellenic. She was a member of Mortar Board, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, and the National Honor Society in Psychology. She married Alvin Barge of Atlanta, GA in 1943 when he was on leave from service in the Navy in the Pacific theater.

Mrs. Barge was active at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church where she and her husband regularly attended the Friendship Sunday School Class. She was an Active member of the Rose Garden Club for 70 years and a founder of the Ladies Investment Club. She was active in her church’s United Methodist Women (President), the Junior League of Atlanta, Wesley Woods (Trustee), Women’s Golf Association of the Capital City Club (President), Tallulah Falls School Women’s Auxiliary, Girl Scouts, Woman of the Year (President), and Atlanta Debutante Club Harvest Ball (Chairman, benefiting Egleston, now Childrens Hospital).

Betty and Alvin enjoyed travel with their children and, after the children were grown, visited every continent. For her 90th birthday, she travelled for three weeks with her daughter Betsy to the Cotswolds, London, Paris and on a river cruise to Normandy. A large group of extended family and friends also gathered for a festive 90th birthday celebration and luncheon at the Piedmont Driving Club where she was presented with a framed collection of “90 Reasons We Love Betty Barge.”

The Barge home was always open for gatherings of friends. Neighbors were welcomed for a New Year’s Day party or a Super Bowl party. The extended family has, for 65 summers, enjoyed spending a month at the family home at Lake Rabun, playing croquet or a game of cards, skiing, swimming, fishing and boating.

Mrs. Barge was distinguished by her abiding faith in Jesus Christ and known for her wisdom and affirmation of everyone. People appreciated what she had to say because they knew she truly cared about them and saw only the best in them. Famous for always remembering people’s names, she was quick to introduce everyone wherever she was, routinely speaking to everyone by name in the halls at Lenbrook, in the elevator and in the dining room, thereby contributing to the same sense of community during her 15 years at Lenbrook that she and Alvin enjoyed for more than 47 years on Woodward Way.

Through the years, Betty and Alvin enjoyed being with their four children, Otis Alvin Barge III (deceased) (Thu), John Milton Barge (Olivia), Kelly Smith Barge (Anne), and Betsy Barge Birkholz (Roger); fourteen grandchildren, Betty Phan (Sean) Coy, Jonathon (Sarah) Barge, Britney Barge, Brooks (Libby) Barge, all of Atlanta, GA, Chris (Erin Koenig) Barge, Boulder, CO, Katie (Jeremy) Paris, Cleveland, OH, Ben Barge, Washington, D.C., Sam Barge, Atlanta, GA, Carson (Moliehi) Weitnauer, John’s Creek, GA, John Bowden (Nicole) Weitnauer, Snellville, GA, Anna Weitnauer, Seattle, WA, Carissa (Yon) Hammel and Stacey (Jason) Price, both of Jacksonville, FL, Bradley (Jamie) Birkholz , Cumming, GA, and twenty great-grandchildren. Betty is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews and many devoted friends. Betty was predeceased by three older siblings and their spouses including a brother, Milton, who died at the age of 6 of pneumonia, a sister, Mary Lenna (Argyle) Crockett, and another brother, John Trafton (Jane) Fleetwood. The family is grateful to Menders for the provision of excellent caregivers and especially for the special care and attention provided by Helen Bennett, Fama Njie, Peggy Weaver and Margaret Martin.

A graveside service will be Monday, August 8, 2016 at 10 a.m. at Westview Cemetery and a Celebration of Life service will follow at Noon at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, with Dr. Bill Britt and Dr. Betsy Lunz officiating. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Peachtree Road United Methodist Church or your favorite charity.