Daphna Barnes Ezell

Daphna Wilda Barnes was born in Summerville, Georgia on November 4, 1927. She was the only daughter of Mary Rich Barnes of Summerville, Georgia and Dr. William Barnes of Albany, Georgia. She was a precocious girl, and was moved ahead a grade in school. She was always very good at mathematics. At around age 8, she was sent north to live with her Aunt Alzeda and cousin Wylene.

At age 18, she had been accepted at MIT, but she was unable to attend. It was at Birmingham Southern College that she met her husband of 65 years, Joe Boyd Ezell. After marrying, Joe and Daphna lived for a few years in Birmingham, where Daphna used her mathematical skills working for IBM Corporation as a “plug-board programmer.” She was always good with machines.

Shortly, the couple moved to Tuscaloosa where their son David was born. Later, in Gadsden, their daughter Joanna was born.

After that, the family moved to Atlanta. In addition to being the world’s greatest mom for David and Joanna (she was president of the PTA!), Daphna also worked at the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools doing bookkeeping, programming and maintaining the computerized accounting and payroll systems.

Daphna is survived by her son David and his partner David Fitzgerald, daughter Joanna and her husband Jim Pope, grandchildren Alan, Chelsea, Jordan, Ryan and his wife Chaney, and Daphna’s great-granddaughter Regan.

Daphna – or Nana as she’s called now – was the matriarch of a growing clan, loved by all, and she remains an inspiration!

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Alzheimer’s Foundation, 41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 550, Atlanta GA 30346, Attn: Dave Houston, VP of Development, or at www.alz.org/georgia/

Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, the 5th of February at three o’clock in the afternoon at Patterson’s Arlington Chapel with Reverend Brad Mauldin officiating. Interment will follow at Arlington Memorial Park. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family Friday from two o’clock until the hour of service at H. M. Patterson & Son Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Road, NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328.