Martha Elizabeth Pharr

On Thursday December 1st, 2022, Heaven gained an angel by the name of Martha Elizabeth Bacon Pharr, who we all knew and loved as “Beth.” Beth Pharr was born on June 14th, 1967, in Richland, Ga to Robert “Bobby” and Martha Bacon. She was the oldest of two children. Beth and her brother, Doug, enjoyed their early years on the family farm in Plains, Ga. They watched crops grow in the surrounding fields and learned about irrigation. They watched the farmers pick the fields and deposit the spoils into the huge red wagons. They played in the wagons with their crops and thankfully never sank below their eyeballs! Bobby taught her that “dammit to Hell” and “Can’t Never Could” covered most problems. As a child, she attended Elementary School in Plains (Mrs. Duke, Mrs. Jennings, Mrs. Jan Williams were a few favorite teachers) and Plains United Methodist Church. Here she learned Christianity, but most importantly learned that Jesus loves her! She was also friends with Amy Carter, whose father just so happened to be Jimmy Carter. Once President Carter was elected, Amy invited her up to the White House one summer where she stayed for a few weeks. She bowled in the bowling alley, watched Music Man with the family, swam in the White House Pool, attended a State Dinner for an Italian dignitary, and even learned the use of a Finger Bowl! She also had the opportunity to visit the Smithsonian Museum, Mt. Vernon, the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, Arlington Cemetery, and saw the Changing of The Guard. At the conclusion of the trip, Amy, Mary, and Secret Service brought her home. While on the way back, they spent the night in Charlotte, NC and visited Carowinds Park the next day. While there, some local news media captured their photo and she showed up in a Charlotte newspaper as Amy’s friend, Mary Beth Bacon! It was a pretty good start for a girl that grew up on a dirt road. She attended Staley Jr High and met lifelong friends Leslie Lott, Lisa Hayes, Faith Fuller, Christopher Gurr, Ty Turner and Tracy Law. She attended Americus High School and further developed those friendships, while also making more friends (she had the ability to make friends anywhere she went). She also learned to drink alcohol at the Lott’s parties when Mr. Sam and Mrs. Vickie left town!! Probably learned how much she loved football from attending Friday night games for the mighty AHS Panthers. Everybody attended those Friday night games, even most of the parents. She applied to GA Tech and US Air Force Academy; she was accepted to both. She received her recommendations to the Academy from Jimmy Carter and Congressman, Richard Ray. She was pretty sure that she couldn’t tough it out at the Academy, so her pursuit ended there, but we all know she would have been just fine. She ended up attending Georgia Southwestern her freshman year to complete her credits for Georgia Tech. Here, she met Sandra and Allison Walker. She also met their family and loved everything about them. Once she transferred to Georgia Tech, she worked for Alabama Power at the Farley Nuclear Plant. Here she learned that very few women worked in nuclear power, but learned a ton about the workings of a nuclear reactor by Holt Floyd, Hoot Gibson, and Glen Granberry. Upon graduation in March of 1990, she accepted a job at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. While there, she inspected power plants and fuel fabrication facilities. Shortly after graduation, she married Tom Pharr on September 8th, 1990. After a few years, Macon and Will were born and she shifted roles to stay home with them. After a brief hiatus, she returned to work in 2001 at Theragenics Corporation, a manufacturing facility responsible for manufacturing and distributing radioactive brachytherapy medical devices. While at Theragenics, she was able to complete her master’s degree in Health/Medical Physics at Oregon State University. She left Theragenics in 2018 and went to work for Phoenix Technologies. There, she inspected radiation safety programs at hospitals and medical offices. She stayed there until May of 2021 and then rejoined the team at Theragenics. Unfortunately, her life was plagued by cancer twice. She was initially diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2012 by a routine mammogram. She was able to defeat it quickly and was able to resume her normal life. Then in 2018, a bone biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of Metastatic Breast Cancer, and she was told there wasn’t a cure. Thus began a new journey, her fight was not over. God had a plan. Since 2018, she fought tremendously hard and pursued aggressive treatments. Although aggressive, she was still able to live her life to the fullest. She took the opportunity to travel as much as possible and saw some incredible places with her son’s and friends: Acadia National Park (Maine), Baxter State Park (Maine), Zion National Park (Utah), the Grand Canyon (Arizona), Sedona, AZ, Glacier National Park (Montana), Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming), Grand Tetons National Park (Wyoming), New York City, the Florida Keys, as well as most of Oregon and California. She was also able to be present for both Macon’s graduation from Georgia Tech and Will’s graduation from Kennesaw State University. Lastly, she was able to attend Macon and Maddy’s wedding – she finally got her daughter! She has been an inspiration and encouragement to others needing it. She has taught us to never give up, even when the odds are stacked against your favor. She fought until the very end and put up one hell of a fight. She loves you all and will great you on the other side! She might have a bald head, but you’ll all be able to recognize her smile! Beth will be dearly missed by all. She is survived by her mother (Martha Bacon), brother (Doug Bacon), and her oldest son Macon, his wife Maddy, and youngest son Will. A Memorial Service in Johns Creek will be held at Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church on Wednesday, December 7th at 12 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the following locations: • MD Anderson Cancer Center o https://www.mdanderson.org/donors-volunteers/donate.html • Emory University - Winshape Cancer Institute o https://winshipcancer.emory.edu/support-winship/give/index.html • Susan G. Komen Metastatic Breast Cancer Research o https://secure.info-komen.org/site/Donation2?df_id=23821&mfc_pref=T&23821.donation=form1&creative=fy22_evergreen_moments&chosen=100&23566.donation=form1&fbclid=IwAR15PYNZDTl4RCMPNld--XWwas9l041DkuthSm5fs6wz9NAL9jKa9XZfuEQ The family wishes to thank all who have shared their love and support during this time of sadness. To express condolences, please sign our online guest book at www.flaniganfuneralhome.com. Arrangements By: Junior E. Flanigan of Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford, GA (770) 932-1133.

Martha Elizabeth Pharr

June 14, 1967 - December 1, 2022