Barbara Gay

Barbara Gay passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on September 29th, 2023, at the age of 89. She is reunited with her husband, Dick, in the great Festhalle in Heaven. 

Barbara was born on April 25th, 1934, in Thomasville, Georgia. She attended Thomasville High School before graduating from Heidelberg American High School while her father was stationed in Germany. In 1956, she earned her Bachelor's degree from Florida State University while working as a dance instructor at Arthur Murray. 

Barbara grew into a life of travel through her father's military career. She continued this adventurous lifestyle when she met her husband, LTC(R) Dick Gay. They were married on October 12th, 1957, in Toccoa, Georgia. Together, they embarked on a journey that spanned over 50 years of marriage and military postings in Germany, Alabama, New Mexico, and Hawaii, raising two children along the way. 

Barbara held down the fort in Hollywood, Georgia, while Dick served in Vietnam. After Dick's military retirement, Barbara's entrepreneurial spirit led her and Dick to operate the Helendorf River Inn starting in 1973. They moved to Helen in the early 1980s as they continued their involvement in the Helen hospitality and tourism community. Barbara and Dick promoted the hotel and Alpine Helen around the country. 

Barbara also served on various boards and committees, including the Alpine Helen/White County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Georgia Hospitality and Travel Association, American Hotel & Motel Association, and North Georgia Technical College. Barbara's contributions to her community continued through her involvement with the Helen Chamber of Commerce and her co-sponsorship of the Helen to the Atlantic Hot Air Balloon Race, which recently celebrated its 50th year. 

Barbara deeply appreciated dance, bike races, musicals, John Wayne movies, Atlanta Braves baseball, and horseback riding. Her love of horsemanship made her an enthusiastic supporter of the North East Georgia Polo Club in the 1970s. She also enjoyed exploring the world and traveled to Spain, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Egypt, Australia, Hong Kong, Turkey, and many more destinations. 

Barbara is preceded in death by her parents, LTC(R) Louis Frazer Driver and Alice Bradford Wiles Driver, and husband, LTC(R) Richard Gregory "Dick" Gay. She is survived by her siblings COL(R) Frazer Driver and his wife Doris Jean Driver, Mary Driver Gardener, and COL(R) Russel Driver and his wife Lynn Driver, her son LTC(R) Richard Gregory Gay, Jr. and his wife Becky Gay, daughter Catherine Gay Cleiman, as well as grandchildren Nate "Than" Gay and wife Danielle Gay, Cole Cleiman, Aislinn Horton and husband Wesley Horton, and Emily Gay, all of whom will carry forward her legacy of love, adventure, and community involvement. 

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 17th, 2023, from 10am to noon at Barrett Funeral Home, Cleveland, Georgia. At 2pm, a funeral Mass will be held at Saint Paul the Apostle

Catholic Church, Cleveland, GA, followed by interment in the columbarium. The family invites you to join them for a casual Celebration of Life at the Helendorf River Inn, Helen, GA, between 5pm and 7pm. 

Flowers and plants are welcome, as well as memorial donations made to your favorite charity or the Helen Arts and Heritage Council: https://www.helenarts.org/support-hahc

Barrett Funeral Home, Cleveland, GA. 706-865-3101.