Barbara Davis Atkinson (f/k/a Barbara Davis Waters), 79, of Swainsboro, died Saturday, July 1, 2023, after an extended illness. The family will receive visitors at Chapman Funeral Home Saturday, July 29, at 10 a.m. followed by a service at the funeral home chapel officiated by Revs. Louis Pearce and Jim Harrell at 11:30 a.m.
Barbara was born on May 8, 1944, in Charleston, South Carolina, to Thomas Dempsey Davis and Lois “Lattie” Thomas Davis. She 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 in 1963. Barbara 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. Mrs. Atkinson is preceded in death by her parents; and brother, Tommy Davis.
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.
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.
Chapman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
