Barbara Atkinson

Barbara Davis Atkinson (f/k/a Barbara Davis Waters), 79, of Swainsboro, Georgia died on July 1, 2023, after an extended illness.  Barbara was born on May 8, 1944 in Charleston, South Carolina to Thomas Dempsey Davis and Lois “Lattie” Thomas Davis.  She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Tommy Davis.  Barbara spent her youth in Swainsboro, where she graduated from Swainsboro High School in 1962 and then married her first husband Britt Waters and moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1963.  She lived in Atlanta, where she raised her children, for nearly thirty years before moving back to Swainsboro in 1992.

For most of her time in Atlanta, Barbara worked as an apartment manager.  Upon returning to Swainsboro, she was a valued employee of the Georgia Department of Corrections, from which she ultimately retired. Also after returning to Swainsboro, she met her husband Charles Atkinson, with whom she shared a happy and loving life and marriage from December, 2001 until her death.  Barbara’s highest motivations in her life were to be a devoted follower of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, a loyal and loving wife to Charles, and a caring mother and doting grandmother to her sons and grandchildren.  Her family will miss her terribly.

In addition to her husband Charles, Barbara is survived by her sons, Chuck Waters (Kay) and Kevin Waters, both of Atlanta; stepsons Chip Atkinson (Corin) of Tucson, Arizona, Michael Atkinson (Maureen) of Cherry Hill, New Jersey and Dan Atkinson (Tricia) of Tabernacle, New Jersey; grandchildren Sarah Waters, Lauren Waters, Cooper Waters and Reese Waters, all of Atlanta, Grace Best, Emily Kew, Matthew Atkinson, Zachary Atkinson, Abigail Atkinson and Jacob Atkinson, all of Tucson, Arizona, Amanda Atkinson and Kylie Atkinson, both of Cherry Hill, New Jersey and Shannon Atkinson and Finn Atkinson, both of Tabernacle, New Jersey.

The family will receive visitors at Chapman Funeral Home at 10:00 AM on July 29, 2023, followed by a service at the funeral home chapel officiated by Revs. Louis Pearce and Jim Harrell at 11:30 AM.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Barbara’s memory be made to Nunez Baptist Church, P.O. Box 96, Nunez, Georgia 30448.