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Mrs. Josephine "Jo" Morgan Barfield

Obituary

Mrs. Josephine "Jo" Morgan Barfield, of Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia, died on Jan. 31, 2012, after a courageous, on-and-off battle with cancer that spanned nearly a decade from her initial diagnosis.

She remained active throughout her life, until the past few months. She would have been 92 on Feb. 21. She was the daughter of Howitt and Inez Frazier Morgan, and she is survived by her husband of 70 years, James T. Barfield Jr.; their three children, Clare Barfield Hoche, Judge James T. Barfield III, and Robert Morgan Barfield, and their spouses, Henry Hoche, Beverly Stewart Barfield, and Pam Shirley Barfield; grandchildren, Lori West (James), Wayne Hilley, Jim Barfield IV, Jenna Barfield Sleeman (Danny), Emily Cannon (Greg), Morgan Mayfield, (Joey), Joe Barfield; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Barfield was preceded in death by her parents; her step-mother, Eufala Morgan; and three sisters, Frances Phillips, Carolyn Morgan and Marilyn Durkee.

Jo grew up in Atlanta and graduated from Girls High in 1938. She had met her future husband at the age of 14 and they remained sweethearts until she and Jim were married in 1941. They moved to Macon where Mr. Barfield was attending Mercer University on a football scholarship. Jo served as the United States Post Mistress for the Mercer University campus until her husband's graduation and induction into the army in 1943. Even though she was married, and certainly not eligible, the school newspaper nonetheless declared her to be "the prettiest girl on campus." After the war, Jo and Jim returned to Atlanta, where Jo, in addition to being a homemaker, worked side by side with her husband in their business known as Barfield's Health Center located in Little Five Points. This center, ahead of its time, was the only one like it in Georgia. In addition to Body Building and Weight Loss Programs, Jo and Jim conducted physical therapy for Polio victims as well as served as "injury rehab" trainers for the Atlanta Crackers Baseball Team and Georgia Tech athletes.

Later, Jo worked alongside her husband in his other business pursuits, and her skills were indispensable in the brokerage firm known as "Barfield Realty," which is still in operation today and headed by Jo's son, Robert (Bob). Jo's greatest love was always her family, and her expertise in the kitchen was a thing of legend. After the children were grown, Jo and Jim moved from Atlanta to their present home in Chattahoochee Hills, where she excelled as a gardener. Additionally, she loved birds and was successful in encouraging a variety of North and South American migrating birds to frequent the family lake, fruit trees, and feeders, which, according to an article in the Atlanta Journal/Constitution, turned the property into a scene "resembling the Garden of Eden."

Jo spent her lifetime devoted to her Christian faith, which included church ministry for persons with hearing disabilities. She was a member of Palmetto Baptist Church and very active with her Sunday School Class. Jo and Jim opened their property to host church picnics, Easter egg hunts, fishing, and "pasture" golf tournaments. She also held a passion for challenging games of Bridge, and enjoyed the reputation of being a top drawer player. As a Declarer, in hotly contested games with trumps still out, she had a daring gift for reserving a trump or two on the board, while dangerously exploiting the remaining three suits, without suffering a ruff by opponents. Jo lived a remarkable life and the world is truly a better place for her having been in it.

The celebration of her life will be held at Palmetto Baptist Church on Feb. 3 at 1 p.m., and her beloved pastor, Dr. Jimmy Orr, will deliver the memorial message. Those wishing may send an on-line condolence at www.parrottfuneralhome.com . In lieu of flowers, Jo has made a request that contributions be made to the Palmetto Baptist Church Building Fund. The family will receive friends Thursday, Feb. 2 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Parrott Funeral Home & Crematory, Fairburn, 770-964-4800.