News
News

Cobb County teacher dies on Florida vacation

Mary Barkley (Credit: Dodgen Middle School)
Mary Barkley (Credit: Dodgen Middle School)
By Ellen Eldridge
Jan 18, 2017

A Cobb County middle school teacher died while on vacation in Florida.

Mary Barkley died Monday after she was caught in a rip current while swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, according to a letter sent to parents.

Barkley was a seventh-grade lead and life sciences teacher at Dodgen Middle School, where she taught for 16 years.

She also saved two lives as an organ donor, according to the letter.

About the Author

Ellen Eldridge
More Stories

Keep Reading

Amy Stevens, a U.S. Navy veteran who founded Georgia Military Women, was inducted this month into the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame. She recently visited the Atlanta History Center's exhibit, “Our War Too: Women in Service." (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Georgia honors women in uniform amid debate over their roles in combat

Females in uniform like Amy Stevens are being recognized in Atlanta parade, history exhibit and Georgia hall of fame before Veterans Day as combat roles for women are debated.

UPS warns of delivery delays after its plane crash at Louisville hub

The disruption of operations at UPS’ largest hub continues to have some effects, while an investigation and recovery operation continue at the Louisville crash site.

Louisville plane crash response in ‘recovery mode,’ UPS operations disrupted

12 are confirmed dead, believed to include a child, according to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. They do not expect to find survivors at this point, he said.

The Latest

Fighters Gemma Jewels and Savannah Evans delight the crowd at a Deep South Wrestling event.

Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC

Sweet Tea: Ham it up

AJC Peachtree Road Race updates: Find your motivation

A.M. ATL: Ew, gross

Featured

Passengers wait at a Delta check-in counter at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. It was the first day the Federal Aviation Administration cut flight capacity at airports during the government shutdown. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Prolonged shutdown could force 20% flight cuts, U.S. officials warn

The Federal Aviation Administration started reducing flights Friday at 40 major airports, which includes Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

With SNAP benefits in limbo, Atlanta residents step up to help

With SNAP benefits in limbo after a late-Friday Supreme Court decision, many metro Atlanta residents are putting their own money toward supporting those affected.

Study: Rents for low-wage Atlantans rose 9 times faster than for high earners

Rents for suburban workforce housing in the metro Atlanta region increased by almost 20%, while rents for luxury units increased by 2%, a study said.