Myrtle Elizabeth Fitzgerald Barnhart passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at her home in Warner Robins. She was born on October 22, 1930, in Wilcox County, GA to Frank Henry and Ruby Myrtle Miller Fitzgerald. Preceding her in death besides her parents were sister, Maggie Miller Fitzgerald Gordon; brothers, Robert Brummie Fitzgerald, Frank Fitzgerald, Jr and James Dewey Fitzgerald.
She lived the life of a servant and volunteer in every aspect of her life, from substitute teaching Adult Sunday School at Mt. Zion Church; promoting talent shows and inspiring young girls toward a business career through her work with the local Parents and Teachers Associations and serving as Vice President of Georgia PTA; member of the National Association of Parliamentarians and serving as Parliamentarian for these organizations. In 1973, she was honored to be named as Georgia Federation of Business and Professional Women’s “Woman of Achievement” and served as the BPW/GA 1975 State President, as well as serving in every other office throughout the years. She endorsed legislation supporting the Equal Rights Amendment for women. In one of her speaking engagements about working women, she closed paraphrasing Robert Frost: “we have miles to go before we sleep, but the woods are lovely and not so deep.” Over the many years of leadership, mentoring girls and women of all ages came naturally to her. When she was a young girl, she dreamed of traveling and was able to fulfill that dream through the many national and international conventions of BPW/USA. She was a woman of wisdom who was calm in every storm relying on truth, virtue, and God.
Upon retiring from Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins AFB after 33 years of civil service, she started her own income tax preparation business retiring at age 89. She loved seeing her clients year after year.
She was loved by many and will be missed by those left to cherish her memory - daughter, Cynthia Thorpe; son, Marvin Edwin Barnhart, Jr.; grandchildren, Michael Thorpe, Crystal (CJ) Grondin, Heather Barnhart and great-grandchildren, Chase, Averie, and Macie.
Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00pm on October 6 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Abbeville, Ga. The family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00pm. Burial will be at the Fitzgerald Family Cemetery