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Mary Elizabeth “Beth” Baarda passed away on April 8, 2024. She was born on August 5, 1967 to her parents, David Gene Baarda and Elizabeth Warren Traylor Baarda. The family lived in Milledgeville, Georgia and included one older sister, Jo Anna, and one younger sister, Laura.

Beth attended Baldwin county schools graduating from Baldwin County High School in 1986. Her whole life, Beth was an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Milledgeville where she was baptized and raised up in a loving community of faith. After high school she worked full time in food services at Georgia College for several years. After a seizure in 1992, she struggled for the rest of her adult life with depression. Beth loved spending time with her family, doing puzzles, making latch hook rugs, walking her dogs, Scarlet and Roxie, and having peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch. Beth was a fiercely loyal friend and neighbor. On her daily walks she regularly checked in on people who might need a little help or just a smile to brighten their day.

Survivors include her father, Dr. David Gene Baarda; sisters, Dr. Jo Anna Fish and Rev. Laura Jean Baarda; nephews and nieces, John David Fish, Emily Elizabeth Yancey (Mark), Allison Lee Burt (Collin), and Andrew Ray Fish; great niece and nephew, Sadie Ann Elizabeth Yancey and Benjamin Richard Yancey. She is preceded in death by her mother and her bother-in-law, John Edward Fish.

The family will have a graveside service beginning at 3p on Wednesday April 17, 2024 at the Traylor Family Cemetery in LaGrange, Georgia. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Milledgeville, Georgia on Saturday May 11, 2024 at 1p. Flowers are accepted, or donations can be made in memory of Beth Baarda to The Exceptional Way of LaGrange at www.theexceptionalway.org/support-us.