Ruth Yarbrough

Mrs. Ruth Barnes Yarbrough, age 78, of Epworth, passed away Wednesday, January 1, 2020, at her home surrounded by her family. She was born December 26, 1941, in Cohasset, Massachusetts, to the late Israel Merritt “Barney” Barnes and Lanelle Atwood Barnes. She was raised in Scituate, Massachusetts, and later moved to Orlando, Florida, and attended Boone High School. Ruth worked a number of years at the College of Education at Georgia State University and later retired from AT&T in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Ruth loved birds, quilting, baking and raising chickens. According to one of Ruth’s great-grandsons, she was famous because she helped create the Barnes Family Cookbook. She was also a member of the House of Prayer in Blairsville.

Ruth is survived by her husband of 24 years, David E. Yarbrough; children and their spouses, Danette and Lewis Reagan of Stockbridge, Georgia, Denise and David Reynolds of Jackson, Georgia, Brian and Leslie Yarbrough of Ft. Knox, Kentucky, and Mark Yarbrough of Savannah, Georgia; grandchildren and their spouses, Joshua and Kandie Reynolds, Caleb and Brittany Reynolds, Ashley and Jeremy Bell, Brittany and Dustin Basinger, the Rev. Allen and Alex Mills, Cobb Yarbrough, Christopher Yarbrough, Heather Yarbrough and Justin Yarbrough; great-grandchildren, Houston West, Canaan Reynolds, Adelyn Basinger, Gunnar Basinger, Sawyer Basinger and Jay Parker Bell; sisters, Jane and Wally Hollis of Scituate, Massachusetts, and Lorrie and Richard White of Maryville, Tennessee; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews also survive.

Memorial services were conducted Saturday, January 4, 2020, at House of Prayer, in Blairsville, with Pastor Jerry Helton officiating. 

Music was provided by Allen Mills. Interment followed in the Georgia National Cemetery Tuesday, January 7, 2020, in Canton, Georgia. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Canal Lake Bible Camp, c/o The House of Prayer at P.O.Box 1475, Blairsville, GA 30514. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.akinsfuneralhome.com. Akins Funeral Home of Blue Ridge was in charge of the arrangements.