Barbara Jean Tomoda "BT"

Ms. Barbara Jean Tomoda "BT", 69 passed away Wednesday, June 25, 2025, surrounded by her family. Ms. Tomoda was born January 3, 1956, in Milledgeville, GA to the late Eugene Frederick and Gracy Cook who survives. Barbara worked and retired from Waffle House after 33 years of service.

Survivors include her three children, Evon Tomoda, Stacy Macon, and Rose Barnett, seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren: mother Gracy Cook and her brother, Chuck Cook.

In addition to her family, Ms. Tomoda was preceded in death by a grandchild.

Barbara Tomoda, lovingly known as “BT,” was a woman whose presence lit up every room and whose heart embraced not only her family but an entire community. She gave her love and dedication so freely, and in return, she was deeply loved by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

BT was the kind of person who was always there. The steady hand in a storm, the shoulder to lean on, the voice of reason (and sometimes, tough love) when it was most needed. She never hesitated to speak her truth, and in doing so, she taught us all the value of honesty, strength, and standing firm in what you believe.

She was stubborn, yes but in that stubbornness was a beautiful kind of independence. It was her way of showing care, of making sure the people she loved were looked after, even if it meant doing the hard things. She had a way of making the impossible possible. Challenges didn’t break her, they fueled her.

What truly defined BT was the way she loved. It was that love, that unwavering compassion, that drove her to help others, to lift people up, and to never, ever give up on life, on people, or on the belief that things could get better.

Her legacy lives on in every life she touched with every act of kindness, every bit of advice she gave, and every ounce of strength she passed down to those she loved. We will carry her spirit with us always, honoring her by living with the same fierce love, honesty, and determination that she embodied every single day.

Online condolences can be left at www.bryantgrantfuneralhome.com

Bryant-Grant Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Tomoda family.