Barbara Elizabeth Bush Gatlin

Barbara Elizabeth Bush Gatlin passed away on Saturday, March 11th, 2023, at home after a long battle against cancer. Visitation will be in the suites of Parkway Funeral Home from 10am until Noon on Thursday, March 23rd, 2023, followed by a celebration of her life and her love for our Lord Christ Jesus in the chapel immediately following.

Barbara was born on September 26, 1953, to parents Mary Alice Garner Bush and Charles Crawley Bush, Sr. in Natchez, Mississippi. In 1971, she graduated from Callaway High School. In 1972, she married her husband, Ernest Clayton Gatlin, Jr., a fellow Callaway High School student. Barbara attended Mississippi State University. She served in the Madison Junior Auxiliary and the Junior League of Jackson. Barbara fulfilled her purpose in life of helping others through 10 years of substitute teaching in the Madison school district and 25 years at Azelea Christian Manor, where she recently retired as manager in June 2022. Barbara is a member of the Madison United Methodist Church in Madison, Mississippi.

Barbara is preceded in death by her parents. Barbara is survived by her husband of 50 years, Ernest Clayton Gatlin, Jr., her sister Becky Bush Greer (Steve), of Madison, her brothers Dr. Charles C. Bush, Jr. (Karen), of Ridgeland, and Dr. William G. Bush (Amy), of Jackson, brother-in-law David Thomas Gatlin (Brenda) of Black Canyon City, AZ, sons Ernest Clayton Gatlin III (Ashley), of Tuscaloosa, AL, William Bradley Gatlin (Kelley), of Madison, and daughter Katherine Elizabeth Gatlin Shelton (Rustin), of Madison and her seven (7) grandchildren, Allie Caroline Gatlin, John Barron Gatlin, Mary Crisler Gatlin, Frances Grace Gatlin, Christian Brayden Shelton, Robert Clayton Shelton and Matthew Garrett Shelton.

Barbara’s family meant everything to her and she will always be remembered by her husband, children, grandchildren and her many other family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Magnolia Speech School online at https://www.magnoliaspeechschool.org/support-us/donate-now/ or to Madison Ridgeland Academy by mail to Madison-Ridgeland Academy Development, 7601 Old Canton Road, Madison, MS 39110 online at mrapats.org/supporting-mra/ways-to-give/ or by phone at 601-856-4455.