Lucy "Ezzard" Bartlett

Lucy Ezzard Bartlett died peacefully at home on September 30, 2025, at the age of 87. Born August 3, 1938, in Tiger, GA to Ruth Arrendale and William Trimble Ezzard, Lucy was the middle of five siblings who predeceased her: Joanne Ezzard Barksdale, John A. Ezzard, M.D., Henry H. Ezzard, and William T. Ezzard, Jr. Lucy married Harry M. (Skip) Bartlett in 1958, and they celebrated nearly 65 years of marriage before Harry's death in 2023. Lucy is survived by her children, Beverly A. Bartlett and William D. and Lisa Bartlett, and three grandchildren: Ian N. Bartlett, Liam S. Bartlett (Jaya), Emily S. Bartlett, and great-grandson Maddox W. Bartlett. She is also survived by her foster sister Jane Chang and her beloved cousin Margaret P. Thrasher who was like another sister to her; nine nieces and nephews, thirteen great-nieces and nephews, and whole host of extended family.

The daughter of an Army officer, Lucy lived in several places as a child, though most of her younger years were spent on the farm in Tiger, Georgia. She graduated from Baker High in Columbus, GA. She started college at LaGrange and transferred to the University of Maine when she married Skip, where she graduated in 1960. The family moved to Roswell, NM in 1967. Lucy taught communication skills at Eastern NM University, then was the team leader for the education department at NM Rehab Center for 14 years. She helped organize the National Association of Rehabilitation Instructors and served on the Board of the National Rehabilitation Association for four years. She received the top award of the NM Rehab Assoc. and NM Rehab Teacher of the Year. While in NM, Lucy completed her Masters in Education in 1983. Before returning to North Georgia in 1988, Lucy taught primary special education and 4th grade for two years at Missouri Ave. Elementary School in Roswell.

Lucy and Skip moved to Gainesville, GA in 1988 where Lucy became the reading specialist and director of the learning center at Brenau University and Brenau Academy from 1989 to 2003. Following in her mother's footsteps, she earned her Ed. D in education in her fifties, in 1993. Upon retiring to the family farm in Rabun County, Lucy was a volunteer tutor at Rabun Gap Nacoochee School for two years. She helped lead the successful campaign to stop the building of I-3, was an active member of the Mtn. Ivy Garden Club and Wiley Presbyterian Church where she served as an elder and taught adult Sunday School for 13 years.

Lucy was a committed Christian her whole life, growing up Methodist, and being an active church member wherever she lived whether Congregational in Maine or Presbyterian in NM and GA. Her faith informed the way she lived her life-with kindness, generosity, a commitment to helping whoever she could, and advocating for a more just and fair society. In addition to tutoring at Rabun Gap in retirement, she tutored migrant workers in her home, teaching them English.

If there was someone to feed, Lucy fed them. She was famous in her world for her pound cakes, sausage cheese biscuits, lasagna, and cookies. She loved to bake, garden, arrange flowers, sew, and knit. For decades she wanted to go to Alaska and was able to travel on an inland passage cruise last summer with her children, crossing off one of the final big items on her bucket list.

The family wishes to thank Lucy's long-time caregiver and friend Sherrie Crone and caregiver Elise Purdy for taking such good care of her, as well as Pruitt Hospice Care for their extraordinary support and nursing care during Lucy's final days. A memorial service and celebration of Lucy's life will be held Friday, December 19th at 11 am at the Wiley Presbyterian Church, 193 Wiley Church Lane, Wiley, GA 30581. Gifts in Lucy's memory may be made to the Wiley Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 178, Wiley, GA 30581, or the Mtn. Ivy Garden Club Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 3, Tiger, GA 30576.