Barbara Mary Byrnes Marcus

Barbara Mary Byrnes Marcus, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and faithful servant of God, passed away peacefully in Alpharetta, Georgia, in 2025 at the age of 90.

Born in 1934 in Waterbury, Connecticut, Barbara was the cherished daughter of Katherine and Leo Byrnes. She grew up in Waterbury. A gifted student with a sharp mind, Barbara graduated from Wellesley College in 1956 with a degree in mathematics.

Barbara’s early career, she worked at Lincoln Labs, programming systems to decipher handwritten Morse code. She later joined General Dynamics in Groton, CT, working in submarine systems, and eventually brought her expertise to Georgia-Pacific as a computer programmer. In 1986, that work led her and her husband to relocate from Connecticut to Alpharetta, Georgia, where they would build a new chapter of life and community.

Barbara married Edward Nagel Marcus, and together they raised four children:

• Maura Marcus, her husband Craig Nohl, and their children Brian, Erin, and Kurt
• Kate Marcus Marsh, her late husband Norm Marsh, and their daughters Ferrell and Scottie
• Edward (Marc) Marcus and partner Maria “Lola” Delao
• Will Marcus, his wife Suzy Styczynski, and their children Weston, Peter, and Holly

Barbara was the joyful grandmother of eight grandchildren, and the proud great-grandmother of Rawlings Lee Anthony.

A woman of deep and abiding faith, Barbara was a longtime member of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Johns Creek, where she was active in prayer and rosary groups and volunteered for St. Vincent DePaul Charities and Meals on Wheels. Her faith was not just personal, but lived through her service and compassion for others.

She found joy in daily moments—whether playing bridge with friends, solving Sudoku puzzles, or spending time near water, which she always loved. In Connecticut, she lived on the Saugatuck River, and when moving to Georgia, she and Edward surprised the family by building a home on Lake Windward.

Barbara will be remembered as a devoted mother, intelligent pioneer, quiet leader, and steadfast woman of faith. Her legacy lives on in the family she raised, the friends she loved, and the example she set through a life well-lived.

A funeral Mass will be held on August 4st at 10:30 a.m. at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Johns Creek. A reception will follow at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations in Barbara’s memory to St. Benedict’s Catholic Church or a charity of your choice.

"Well done, good and faithful servant." — Matthew 25:23