just a few scant hours before her 75th birthday at Emory University Hospital in
Atlanta. Funeral services will be held at Saint Monica’s Catholic Church in Duluth
on Monday, May 6th at 11:00 a.m. with interment to follow at Arlington Memorial
Park in Sandy Springs. Prior to the funeral on Monday, the family will receive
friends Sunday afternoon, May 5th from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the R. M.
Patterson & Son - Arlington Chapel in Sandy Springs. In lieu of flowers, the family
ask that donations be made to Saint Monica’s Catholic Church in Duluth, CURE
For Childhood Cancer, The Salvation Army, or The Atlanta Humane Society.
Barbara was one of four children, including sisters Maraul and Arlene and brother,
Steven, born to the late Paul John and Margaret Cole Houfek who were long time
Atlanta residents. Barbara grew up in Brookhaven, attending Our Lady Of
Assumption Elementary and Saint Pius X before going to Auburn University where
she majored in speech therapy.
While at Auburn, she became a devoted member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority and
was involved in a significant number of student activities. As the Sweetheart Of
Delta Chi Fraternity, she met her husband, Richard, who fell head over heels in love
with her. Their beautiful marriage lasted almost fifty four years until her untimely
death.
As an adult, Barbara returned to school at Georgia State University where she
became a fixture on the Dean’s List, quarter after quarter; became a member of
Mu Rho Sigma; and was selected to Mortar Board as well as other academic societies.
Majoring in psychology, Barbara graduated with high honors.
Using her academic background, she taught many poor and disadvantaged young
women as a teacher in providing insight and knowledge laced with compassion and
love for those less fortunate among us.
Together, Barbara and Richard raised two fine, upstanding sons, Richard III and
Robert. In turn, these two young men fathered four handsome and talented
grandsons, Rex, Stroud, Chip, and Patrick and, lastly, Robert with his caring wife,
Stephanie produced a beautiful and sweet little granddaughter in Emma who has
managed to win everyone’s heart who has ever seen and spoken to her.
Barbara also enjoyed having fun with friends and family. One of her great passions
in life was traveling throughout the civilized world with her husband, Richard,
including jaunts from Peter The Great’s Imperial Russia to Casablanca; from Monte
Carlo to the Caspian; and from the Roman Coliseum to the Holy Land. Barbara
also enjoyed her trips to Alaska and the Far West where she relished seeing wildlife
up close and personal. She valiantly tried to see it all. On their last trip, Barbara
and Richard traced the footsteps of the Viking hoards, as they rampaged throughout
Scandinavia and the rest of the known world, on both land and sea. It was one of her
favorite trips.
In closing, Barbara Jean Houfek Payne was not only a radiantly beautiful woman,
but a person who cared about others with a servant’s heart and touched many, many
lives. She will be missed, not only by her devoted family, but by all those who knew
and loved her. Barbara was, indeed, a Christian and lived a life of faith, kindness,
and compassion for others to the end of her days. … Selah!
