Barbara M. Humphreys

Barbara M. Humphreys, 82, of Atlanta passed away on April 4, 2018 from Alzheimer’s disease. She lived in DeKalb County for 50 years and was a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta. Although she was born on March 28, 1936 in Minneapolis, MN, she was raised in Indiana and practiced the old Hoosier saying, “Just Do It.” Barbara graduated from Michigan State University, class of 1958. She was fluent in French and spent her junior year of college studying at the Sorbonne in Paris. Barbara was an avid gardener; she called herself “Flower Lady.” In the early 1970’s she convinced then Mayor Maynard Jackson that Atlanta needed a botanical garden. After much hard work she founded The Atlanta Botanical Garden in Piedmont Park and was appointed Executive Director in 1978. Barbara’s horticultural career has been marked by many accolades; in 1994, the Garden established the “Barbara Humphreys Employee of the Year Award.” This annual award is given to an employee who has done an outstanding job and who, like Barbara, has gone beyond the call of duty for the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Following her retirement, she admired the growth of the Garden as an asset to the city. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, John L. Humphreys, daughter Megan, son Brenin, and grandsons Evan and Keith. A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at 11:00 AM at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 435 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30308. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Barbara Humphreys Award Fund, 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309. A private inurnment will take place at Oakland Cemetery. Barbara and her smile are missed by us all.