Mrs. Barnett was born in Washington, GA, and was the only child of Henry Grady Drinkard and Marcy Drinkard.She graduated from Washington Georgia High School, and after graduation, attended Cox College for Women in College Park, GA.At the time, Cox College was an all women's liberal arts college and business college.She graduated from there, and was then employed by the Georgia Highway Patrol in the Atlanta area, and was later employed as a secretary in a private business in Thomson, GA.She then married Henry Harrison Barnett, Sr., and became a wonderful wife, mother, and housewife for the rest of her life.