Mrs. Ruth Barnes Yarbrough, age 78, of Epworth, passed away on Wednesday, January 1, 2020, at her home surrounded by her family. She was born on December 26, 1941 in Cohasset, MA to the late Israel Merritt “Barney” Barnes and Lanelle Atwood Barnes. She was raised in Scituate, MA and later moved to Orlando, FL and attended Boone High School. Ruth worked a number of years at the College of Education at Georgia State University and later retired from AT&T in Atlanta, GA. Ruth loved birds, quilting, baking, and raising chickens. According to one of Ruth’s great grandsons, she was famous because she helped create the Barnes Family Cookbook. She was also a member of the House of Prayer in Blairsville, GA.

Ruth is survived by her husband of 24 years, David E. Yarbrough; children and their spouses, Danette and Lewis Reagan of Stockbridge, GA, Denise and David Reynolds of Jackson, GA, Brian and Leslie Yarbrough of Ft. Knox, KY, and Mark Yarbrough of Savannah, GA; grandchildren and their spouses, Joshua and Kandie Reynolds, Caleb and Brittany Reynolds, Ashley and Jeremy Bell, Brittany and Dustin Basinger, Rev. Allen and Alex Mills, Cobb Yarbrough, Christopher Yarbrough, Heather Yarbrough, and Justin Yarbrough; great-grandchildren, Houston West, Canaan Reynolds, Adelyn Basinger, Gunnar Basinger, Sawyer Basinger, and Jay Parker Bell; sisters, Jane and Wally Hollis of Scituate, MA and Lorrie and Richard White of Maryville, TN, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Memorial services were conducted on Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 2:00 PM at House of Prayer, Blairsville, GA with Pastor Jerry Helton officiating. Music was provided by Allen Mills. Interment will follow in the Georgia National Cemetery on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 in Canton, GA at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the Canal Lake Bible Camp c/o The House of Prayer at P.O.Box 1475 Blairsville, GA 30514. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.akinsfuneralhome.com. Akins Funeral Home of Blue Ridge, GA is in charge of the arrangements.