Mrs. Barbara Walker Coburn

Barbara Walker Coburn, 86, of Albany passed away on Saturday, April 27, 2019 at home, surrounded by her family, after a short illness. A memorial service will be held at noon on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at Sherwood Baptist Church with Rev. Michael Catt officiating. Visitation will be immediately prior to the service in the church atrium at 11:00. Mrs. Coburn was born in Moultrie, Georgia on March 19, 1933, and spent her childhood in Fitzgerald, Georgia. At Fitzgerald High School she played clarinet in the band and was a cheerleader for the state championship football team. She graduated from Wesleyan College, with a B.A. in Psychology in 1954, where she worked in the library and expanded her knowledge of the world, art history, and religion. During college when she visited home, she reconnected with Boyd, her neighbor from Fitzgerald. He was attending Emory, and over many trips back to school, and weekend dances, they fell in love. On April 3, 1955 she married Boyd Aultman Coburn at First Baptist Church in Fitzgerald. They soon settled in Albany where she taught at Sherwood Elementary, and became the librarian there for five years. She earned her master’s degree in Library Science from Florida State University. After she earned her education specialist degree from the University of Georgia, she became the Media Coordinator for the 36 schools in the Dougherty County School System. Mrs. Coburn was a devoted member of Sherwood Baptist Church where she sang in the choir, played in the handbell choir, and coordinated the church library. In retirement she valued books to read, flowers to grow, choirs to sing in, and music to listen to. She and Boyd traveled to 24 countries, spent a month each year at St. Simons, and attended plays at the Fox Theatre. She enjoyed her grandchildren growing up the backyard with birthday and swimming parties and family gatherings at holidays. She was preceded in death by her parents, Renfroe Franklin Walker and Margaret Moody Walker; and her sister Elizabeth Walker Bowers (David). She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Boyd Aultman Coburn, two daughters Carol Bishop (Joe) and Leah Masters (Chuck); her six grandchildren Matthew Bishop (Mary), Philip Bishop (Anna), Sarah Keadle (Karl), Katherine McMahon (Kieran), Margaret Harris (Ryan), Andrea Sandbach; and three great-grandchildren Kellan Keadle, Augustus Bishop, and Josephine Bishop. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sherwood Baptist Church. You may sign our online guestbook and share your own special thoughts with the family of Mrs. Coburn by visiting Kimbrell-Stern’s website at www.kimbrellstern.com.

Mrs. Barbara Walker Coburn

March 19, 1933 - April 27, 2019