Wilkes County GaArchives Obituaries.....Thomas, Eugenia "Gene" DuBose Barksdale July 12, 1991 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Marshall Styles marshallstyles@yahoo.com December 14, 2006, 8:22 pm Washington-Wilkes News Reporter Washington-Wilkes News-Reporter, 18 July 1991 Mrs. Gene Barksdale Thomas Funeral services for Mrs. Gene Barksdale Thomas, 87, of 306 North Alexander Avenue, Washington, were held Sunday, July 14, at 5 p.m. in the First Baptist church of Washington with Rev. Albert W. Huyck Jr. and Rev. Elvyn McDonald officiating. Burial was in Resthaven Cemetery. She died Friday, July 12, at her residence. Mrs. Thomas was the daughter of the late Thomas Jackson Barksdale and the late Frances Colley Barksdale of Washington and was a lifelong resident of Wilkes County. Her husband, Frank Walden Thomas, died in 1983. Mrs. Thomas was a graduate of Converse College in Spartanburg, S.C., and was a talented musician. She taught piano for more than 30 years and assisted with the music program of the First Baptist Church. She was superintendent of the Junior Department Sunday School of the First Baptist Church for more than 40 years and was a leader of the Girls Auxiliary, Girls In Action and Woman's Missionary Union. Mrs. Thomas was named Georgia Mother of the Year in 1961 and was a member of the Georgia Mothers Association. She was a member of the Kettle Creek Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution and of the Washington Woman's Club. She organized the first Tour of Homes in Washington that was jointly sponsored by the Woman's Club and Kiwanis Club. Survivors are a son, Frank W. Thomas Jr. of Washington; two daughters, Mrs. Barksdale T. Boyd of Columbus, and Mrs. Gene T. Price of Dallas, Texas; a sister, Miss Willomette C. Barksdale of Washington; five granddaughters, Florence T. Sandifer, Maria T. Bradford, Gene Boyd, Molly Boyd, and Lyn Boyd; six grandsons who served as pallbearers, Frank W. Thomas III, Robert E. Price Jr., Jackson T. Price, Brian S. Price, Thomas D. Boyd, and Alan Price; and four great-grandchildren. Hopkins Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eulogy, Washington-Wilkes News-Reporter, 18 May 1972 'Miss Kathleen' Gave of Herself As Special Friend to Children Only a short while ago, two small boys visited Miss Kathleen Colley and her sister, Mrs. Marion Colley Boyd, at the historic Robert Toombs home on East Robert Toombs Avenue. As “Miss Kathleen” showed them through the house, they stopped to examine two crossed swords, symbolic of all the wars involving the United States. Miss Kathleen mused audibly, but more to herself than to her visitors: “Isn't it terrible to think that men ever began to fight and kill each other?” A Washington lady, when told of Miss Kathleen's death, expressed both sorrow and appreciation and said of her: “She would never, never have told you anything except something good.” The two instances accurately reveal much of the character and lofty ideals of Miss Kathleen Colley, who died here Tuesday morning. It is significant that her visitors were two small boys. Most of her 91 years were spent in helping to mold children into the best they could attain. I write from personal experience. More than any other person, Miss Kathleen instilled in me a love for the printed word and a reverence in the library almost equal to that in the church. She would be much disturbed (as I am) to hear modern-day prophets like Marshall McLuahn proclaim that “books are obsolete.” Persons from my generation, and several others, will remember when the Mary Willis Library was heated only by a small open fireplace. In the winter months especially, it would have been cold and somber and forbidding except for one thing. While the small coal fire could not possibly warm the expanse of the building, Miss Kathleen's own charm and warmth kept the library comfortable. She is best remembered as librarian, having spent 40 years in her labor of love. The Mary Willis Library was opened in 1889, given to the City of Washington by Francis T. Willis as a memorial to his daughter. Miss Kathleen became librarian in 1925, and upon her retirement in 1965, the library had had only three librarians. Mrs. Carrie Dyson Turner was first, followed by Mrs. Hardeman Wood. It is a tribute to Miss Kathleen's influence that Washington has supplied 21 librarians to libraries over the country, including the Library of Congress. While it is natural to think of Miss Kathleen as our beloved librarian, we should be reminded of her other interests and accomplishments. In keeping with her love for children, she was a teacher at prestigious Washington Seminary in Atlanta for a number of years. She was an activist in the Woman's Suffrage movement and in obtaining legislation on child labor and child welfare. She served for a time as postmistress here. Miss Kathleen gave up her teaching career and came to Washington to help care for her parents. Her training, education, talent, and personal character would have allowed her to excel in whatever area she chose. Countless persons can be forever grateful that she was happy to serve as she did. The Mary Willis Library is largely a product of two gifts. Dr. Francis T. Willis gave the building. Miss Kathleen Barnes Colley gave herself. “News-Reporter Editor's Note - Besides the obvious treasure in books contained in the Mary Willis Library, many, many people will remember how Miss Kathleen Colley pointed out and explained other attractions. Almost every child was impressed by the elk's head, stuffed owl (given by two boys), and especially the old Confederate chest. The Tiffany window and elegant portraits are of more substantial value. One of Miss Kathleen's fondest wishes was for the library was that some day the portraits might have suitable name plates attached. It has been suggested that such name plates would be an appropriate memorial to Miss Kathleen.” File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/wilkes/obits/t/thomas9010ob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 6.3 Kb