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

Keep Reading

Orange Crush event organizers George Turner and Steven Smalls at the Tybee Pier on March 6, 2025 on Tybee Island, GA.(Justin Taylor/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Credit: Justin Taylor for The Atlanta Journal Constitution

Featured

Stacey Abrams speaks at a rally for Vice President Kamala Harris at Georgia State University’s convocation center in Atlanta on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Abrams is at the center of speculation over whether she will mount a third campaign for governor. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC