Barbara Anne Martin

Barbara Anne Totten was born on 07 JAN 1940 at the Lutheran Hospital in Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio.

She grew up in Ohio, Texas, and Georgia; moving around due to her father's work.

She graduated Sprayberry High School, in Marietta, Cobb, Georgia in 1958. She attended the University of Georgia in Athens.

She married Jesse Darwin Martin on 15 JUL 1961 in Marietta, Cobb, Georgia at John Knox Presbyterian Church. Darwin was in the US Air Force, and they traveled together as they grew their family. They lived in Corvalis, Oregon; Ancon, Canal Zone, Panama; Montgomery, Alabama; Orlando, Florida; Athens, Georgia; Calhoun, Georgia; Ball Ground, Georgia; and Canton (Buffington), Georgia.

Barbara was primarily a housewife in the 1960's. She joined the Georgia State Patrol in the 1970's, initially as a Radio Operator and later on as a Driver's license examiner. She aspired to be a school teacher, and took courses where and when she could, earning both a Bachelors in Arts in Early Childhood Education in 1980; and a Masters in Early Childhood Education in 1983 from Brenau College in Gainesville, Georgia.

She was a school teacher, and later a librarian, at Ball Ground Elementary from 1980 to around 1993. Mom was medically retired due to diabetes which started when she was in her 40's.

She fought multiple health conditions from her 40's on, and dealt with diabetes, anemia, a heart attack, quadruple bypasses (1995), and the loss of one eye due to a stroke. Mom was on her third defibrillator, and an insulin pump at the time of her passing. Why do I detail the medical issues? Well, she never complained. She was graceful and dignified to the end.

She was an avid traveler having visited Israel and the Holy Lands at least seven times; took 3-4 cruises; toured Egypt, Greece, Europe, Central America, Alaska, and Hawaii.

She was an avid genealogist, joining the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR #713703) and loved her family second only to God.

Barbara was a gifted vocalist. I was always so very proud to hear her sing, and could easily pick out her powerful voice out of the crowd. She was a member of the Cherokee County Chorale for 23 years, serving as their President for at least two years. She sang at Carnegie Hall in New York City, New York in 2007. She was very proud of that fact, as were we, her family.

Mom will be sorely missed, and life won't be quite the same without her. Barbara Anne Totten Martin was a strong and independent woman, beautiful on the inside and out, and is an example of how people should strive to live their lives.

Not a day goes by that I do not think about her. That sort of defines the impact she had on my life, and that of our family.

I love you Mom, Jim

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