Barbara BURNHAM

BURNHAM, Barbara Barbara Cary Burnham, 69, of Decatur, Georgia, passed away peacefully December 3, 2017 after a brief illness. Barbara graduated from Ohio University with a bachelor's degree in Social Work and Psychology and later received a Master of Business Administration and International Business from Georgia State University. She worked for the State of Georgia for over 30 years, serving as State Refugee Coordinator during her tenure. An active member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Atlanta, she founded the Racial and Economic Justice Working Group in 1990. She also served for 10 years as the secretary and treasurer for ABLE Atlanta, a grass roots community empowerment program. Each Monday she volunteered at Operation PEACE, where she tutored third through fifth graders, and volunteered at Hope-Hill Elementary School as an after school assistant to a third grade math teacher. She and her husband Michael adopted a daughter, Laura Burnham, and also fostered several Vietnamese youth through the years, providing a loving home and education. Barbara enjoyed traveling abroad to Vietnam and China and embraced learning about diverse traditions and cultures. She is survived by her husband of 33 years, Michael Burnham; sister Mary Lou Little; brother, Richard Cary; and daughters, Laura Burnham, Kim Chi Clay, Phuong Nguyen, Hong Ta, Linh Ta, and step-children, Barbara Lee, Michael Burnham, Katy Fullum, Karen Burnham, and several grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Atlanta (date to be announced.) In lieu of flowers, please give a donation to your charity of choice.