David Michael Barrett

David Michael Barrett passed away at his home in Athens, Georgia on March 21, 2024, after a long battle with Waldenstrom Lymphoma.

David was born on September 29, 1953, in Rome, Georgia to parents BW Barrett and Dorothy York Barrett.  He lived his younger years in Plainville, Georgia where he attended early elementary school. David later attended school in Shannon, Georgia at Model Elementary and graduated from Model High School in 1971. 

David was an avid, scratch golfer who found his love for the game when he was only nine years old. He was an excellent basketball and baseball player. He played on his school teams as well as in community leagues. David had many school friends throughout the years and those he met while playing sports. David attended Floyd Junior College after graduating high school where he was a member of the golf team.  He later transferred to the University of Georgia where he majored in journalism.  David was a Georgia Bulldog through and through. He was a UGA football season ticket holder for many years and rarely missed a home or away game. He loved organizing groups of Bulldog friends for trips to the games. Tailgating with his fellow Dawgs was a favorite pastime. David posted on several sports boards through the years and made many friends across the country by sharing their love of all sports, but especially college football and “them Dawgs”. 

David competed in golf tournaments throughout his life winning many of them.  He was a member of Callier Springs Country Club in Rome for many years. He considered Callier’s his home away from home and loved spending time there with all of his friends playing golf and cards. 

David married Joy Laraine Lindsey of Rome in June of 2006 in Mooresville, NC.  They resided in Mooresville after marrying and were members of the Point Lake and Golf Club where he made new friends on the golf course.  In April of 2012, they returned to their roots in the state of Georgia to be near precious family members and life-long friends. After moving to Athens, David and Joy were blessed with awesome new friends and neighbors. They joined Lane Creek Golf Club in Bishop, GA where David looked so forward to playing golf with his new friends as often as his health would allow.

During his career, David was a golf course superintendent at 

LinValley Country Club in Rome and assistant superintendent at Druid Hills Country Club in Atlanta.  In 1985, David joined the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier where he worked until his medical retirement in 2008.

David is survived by his wife Joy, daughter Mandy Braswell, her husband Joey and David’s grandson Ryan Braswell. He is also survived by his son Jay Self, his nieces Suzanne Lindsey, Suzanne Luker, his nephew Keiff Lindsey, his brothers in law Bryan Lindsey, Warren Lindsey and his wife Amy, and his sister in law Cathy McDaniel. 

A celebration of life service will be held at a later date.  Friends and family will be notified of the details.  In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in David’s memory. Rest in peace our beloved David “Worm” Barrett, a DGD!