Billy (Bill) H. Barnett

Billy (Bill) H. Barnett, 82, a lifelong resident of Cumming, Georgia, entered his Heavenly home on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, after an extended illness.

Services will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 11 am at Cumming First United Methodist Church, 770 Canton Hwy., Cumming, Ga. Burial will follow at Sawnee View Memorial Gardens. The family will receive family and friends on Friday, February 23 from 1 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm at Ingram Funeral Home, Cumming, Ga.

The son of the late Edith A. and Loy H. Barnett, Bill was born on March 3, 1941 in Forsyth County, one of six children. He was raised in the Big Creek Community, where he attended Big Creek Elementary through the eighth grade. He then went on to attend and graduate from Forsyth County High School (now known as Forsyth Central High School). He excelled in sports and was the first athlete at the school to letter in all four sports – football, baseball, basketball and track and field. In 1959, his senior year of high school, he won the State Class A shot put title and earned an honorable mention in all-state football, achievements Bill was very proud of and enjoyed reminiscing about. In 2016, he was inducted into the Forsyth Central High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame for his outstanding athletic achievements and community service.

After high school, Bill went on to attend Truett McConnell College and the University of Georgia, graduating in 1963 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He then entered the U.S. Army. After his service in the Army, he started work with the Georgia Department of Labor and then moved on to the Forsyth County Department of Family and Children Services, where he met his wife, Barbara. They were married in 1969. The standing joke was they met in the welfare office in the food stamp line!

For the next 50 years of Bill’s working years, he pursued one of his loves – real estate. He worked as a broker, builder, developer and finally as a real estate appraiser.

Bill led a life of service and commitment to his community and is remembered as a force of stability in an everchanging world. His word was his bond. One of Bill’s passions was politics. He was elected and served on the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners from 1979 through 1982, being the chairman for two years. In 1982, he was elected to the Ga. House of Representatives and served five terms from 1983 through 1992, serving the former District 10.

Bill’s involvement and interest in the community also included being a former president of the Cumming Jaycees and being a current member of the “Breakfast Club” at the Cumming Krystal and the Wednesday night dinner group, where he met with friends to discuss the issues of the day! He was also currently serving on the Board of Directors of Sawnee EMC, a position he had been elected to twice and was extremely proud to hold.

But most important to Bill was his family and his faith. His daughter and three grandchildren were the apple of his eye and son-in-law, James Bazemore, was like a son. His support of family included attending nearly every play, recital, chorus concert and sporting event in which they participated. He and Barbara also took the three grandchildren on adventures during school breaks including Opryland, the Fernbank Museum and the Etowah Indian Mounds, to name a few. Bill was a faithful member of Cumming First United Methodist Church where he served on the staff Parish Relation Committee and the planning committee for the construction of the campus on Canton Highway He was also a long time member of the Mize-Dunn Sunday School class.

Bill was also enthusiastic about one other aspect of his life – University of Georgia football and the friends who made every game memorable. Every football Saturday, he could either be found in the stands at Sanford Stadium or in front of the television, cheering on the Dawgs and giving loud, unsolicited advice to the coaches and referees. When it was not football season, the Atlanta Braves took over the screen at his home.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara B. Barnett of Cumming; daughter and son-in-law, Laura and James Bazemore of Cumming; and his three grandchildren, Natalie Bazemore, Samantha Bazemore and Christopher Bazemore all of Cumming. Other survivors include nephews Jimmy Barnett, Rob Stancil, Tommy Tate and Jason Dudley and nieces, Karen Seabolt and Sharon Staples. A multitude of cousins, extended family members and friends also survive.

Bill was preceded in death by all of his siblings and their spouses: Eiron (Lorene) Barnett, Lellon (Virginia) Barnett, Beverly (Melvin) Stancil, Margie (Everett) Tate and Brenda (Jackie) Dudley. He was also preceded in death by his niece, Martha Dean Ledford, and his nephew, Jeffrey Stancil.

Donations may be made in Bill’s memory to the Cumming First United Methodist Church, PO Box 606, Cumming, GA 30028.