Vivian Ficklen Barnett

Ms. Vivian Reese Ficklen Barnett, 83, of Lexington Rd. In Washington, Ga., entered into rest on Saturday, June 19, 2021, at her home. She was born May 29, 1938 in Dublin, Ga., and was the daughter of the late William Boyce Ficklen and Anita Boatwright Flanders Ficklen.She started first grade in Washington, Ga. after one year of kindergarten in Mrs. McMekin’s class at the First United Methodist Church.After moving to Savannah Beach, she attended sixth grade there and seventh grade at Washington Avenue Jr. High in Savannah where her Uncle Horace Marion Flanders was the principal.She and her family then moved to Augusta, where she attended Rupert W. Langford’s eighth grade, then ninth grade at Richmond Academy.After her mother’s death, they moved to Washington, where she started tenth grade and graduated from Washington-Wilkes High School in 1956.She then attended Converse College on Scholarship her freshman and sophomore years(1956-1958)She then attended summer school at the University of Georgia, preparing herself for Emory University Nursing School.She attended on another scholarship, and graduated from Emory in 1961,While studying at Emory, she was a member of the Phi Mu Sorority.Upon finishing at Emory, she worked at Emory University Hospital from 1961-1963, and then married Marion Hill Barnett.She had many nursing jobs, including Wills Memorial Hospital, and at the public health departments of Lincoln County, McDuffie County, and Taliaferro County.She also had worked at CSRA Health, and retired from Wills Memorial Hospital in 2003.She began the first Wills Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and was its first President.She was a member of the Washington Church of the Mediator, and had served on the Vestry several times. She is survived by one son, Wilkes Wingfield Barnett (1970-) and wife Amber, of Washington; two grandchildren, Lucy Evelyn Barnett, and Maximus Hill Barnett; one sister, Boyce F. Davis, of Athens; two nephews, Jay Davis and Charles Ross Hatcher III; and two nieces, Anita D. Young and Marian Hatcher Thorpe; and she was preceded in death by her two daughters, Lucy Ficklen Barnett( 1964-1997), and Mary Hill (Mamie) Barnett (1967-2019). Graveside services will be 10:30 am Wednesday, June 23, 2021, at Resthaven Cemetery with Rev. Bob Dendtler officiating.The family will then go to the Church of the Mediator Parrish Hall where they will receive friends after the service. Pallbearers will be Jay Davis, Marty Smith, Marshall Roberts, Rob Jackson, Michael Smith, and Jimmy Reynolds. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or to the Washington Church of the Mediator, Washington, GA30673. Hopkins Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.