Barbara Burgard Gray

Barbara Burgard Gray of Canton, formerly of Kennesaw, passed away Tuesday, January 13, 2026, after a brief illness. She was 82.

Barbara was born in Buffalo, NY and moved to northeast Atlanta when she was a child. She grew up on Tanglewood Circle and graduated from St. Pius X Catholic High School. Barbara attended the University of Georgia and Kennesaw State University; she spent most of her career in leasing and property management in the metro Atlanta area.

Barbara was a devoted mother to three children (Alan, Carrie and Patrick) and spent much of her time cheering them on in various athletic endeavors across Cobb County as well as serving as a scout leader, room mom, PTA and booster club volunteer. She enjoyed her later years as the beloved "Nana" to her multiple grandchildren.

An avid sports fan, Barbara followed the Georgia Bulldogs through college football season each year, as well as the Atlanta Braves baseball through the spring and summer (and in better seasons, the fall as well). Like many of us, she watched the Atlanta Falcons with some reluctance-- and occasional bitterness.

Barbara loved art, music, literature and pop culture. She particularly enjoyed rock and roll and folk music, and listed Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, the Beetles, the Rolling Stones and Fleetwood Mac as favorites. Painters whose work she most admired included Vincent Van Gogh, NC Wyeth and Andrew Wyeth, Dusan Djukaric, and Winslow Homer. The Tony Awards and Academy Awards were always must-see TV in her home annually, especially the red carpet preview shows. A trip to the Fox Theatre in Atlanta was always much anticipated, she enjoyed "Six," "Book of Mormon," "Hamilton" and "Wicked" in recent years (she said "Six" was her favorite of newer musicals, but "West Side Story" is the all-time best). Barbara loved to cook, particularly baking, and gardening was also a lifelong interest.

Barbara met monthly with a group of high school friends, gathering for lunch regularly over the last 20 years. Dottie, Fleming, Karen and Kathryn (and before they passed, Mary Ann and Peggy) were like sisters to her and gave her so much support and cherished friendship through the years. We should all be so lucky to have a core group of true friends like these women!

Barbara is survived by her children, Alan Gray (Melenie) of Nelson, New Zealand; Carrie McGowan (Mike) of Canton; and Patrick Gray (Tracy) of Columbus, NC; her brother David Burgard; her grandchildren Harrison Gray (Asheville, NC); Amanda Budd (Athens, GA); Brianna, Jeffrey, Rudy and Sarah Gray (Columbus, NC); Jake, John and Will McGowan (Canton); two nephews, Darren and Logan Burgard; and two great grandchildren, Sofia and Judy McGowan. She is preceded in death by her brother Peter Burgard and her grandson Adam Budd.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 21 at 3 pm from the chapel of Darby Funeral Home. Visitation will precede the service from 2-3 pm.

The caring staff of Darby Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Ms. Barbara Burgard Gray.