Annie “Merle” Denham Barge, 76, of Tifton passed away Wednesday, January 20, 2021, at her daughter’s residence in Enigma. Her funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 23, 2021, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. Jason Rich officiating. Merle will be laid to rest at Omega Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday, January 22, 2021, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. COVID-19 guidelines will be observed during the visitation and the funeral service.
Lee Conger, Andrew Cole, Stacey Tillman, Casey Sikes, Austin Griner and Collin Edwards will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Harold Cole, Billy Owen, Ricky Barnes and Connor Owen.
Born April 24, 1944 in Tift County, Merle was the daughter of the late Curtis Denham and Julia Aultman Denham. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Leonard Barge; one brother, Glynn Denham; one sister, Betty Ann Whistler; one granddaughter, Lillie Rich; and a grandson, Tanner White. Before retiring, she was a school bus driver and a teacher’s aide. She loved coaching softball, cooking and spending time with her grandchildren.
Merle is survived by her daughters and their families, Julie and Ricky Barnes of Enigma, their children Lee Conger and his children, Madison, Dylan and Sadie; Brandi and Jason Rich and their children, Levi, Emily and Natalie, and Willow and Steven; Kelly and Billy Owen of Enigma and their children, Steven Lingefelt, Kayla and Austin Griner and their children, Olivia and Ryleigh Boyd, Alexis and Collin Edwards and their child, Lainey, Connor Owen, Billy Owen III and Jesse Owen; Denise and Harold Cole of Brookfield and their children, Cara and Stacey Tillman and their children, Brently and Wyatt, Alannah and Casey Sikes and their child, Anslie, and Andrew and Hope Cole and their sons, Noah and Alex; Chrissy Dyal of Hazelhurst and her children, Gunner White and Bryson Dyal; her siblings and their spouses, Lynwood and Joann Denham, Earl and Teddy Denham, Sue Patton and Lee and Gerri Denham, all of Tifton, Neil and Ann Denham of Sylvester and Mike and Carol Denham of Dawsonville; a sister-in-law and her husband, Elizabeth and Bill Creel of Woodstock; her life partner, Susan Nelms; special friends, Tammy Waller and Shelia Zaruba; and many nieces and nephews.