Patricia and Bamah Vaughn

Bamah Vaughn of Smyrna, Georgia passed away on April 3, 2023 at her home, in the company of family and friends. For those fortunate enough to know her, I think everyone would agree she was a wonderful and caring person. She was a devoted mother and grandmother who loved spending time with her family. Additionally, she was a former Marine, a dog lover, an avid walker, and a loyal friend to many. She lived a long and full life, and we want to acknowledge it was a life well-lived. She died peacefully at the age of 98, just 43 days before her 99th birthday.

Equally sad, two years ago, Bamah’s daughter Patricia “Patti” passed away unexpectedly in California. Due to COVID-19 protocols at the time, the family was unable to host a service. Per Bamah’s wishes, we have been holding Patricia’s ashes in Georgia until both could be honored together.

Patti grew up in Sunnyvale, California and spent much of her adult life living and working in San Jose, California. Professionally, she was an Information Technology Manager and business leader working for multiple Fortune 500 companies in Silicon Valley. Eventually, she moved to Marietta, Georgia to be closer to her mother and other family members. She happily adopted and cared for multiple dogs, especially German Shepards. With a network of friends and former colleagues still in the Golden State, she decided to move back to northern California – just six months before she passed away.

Because both Bamah and Patti spent years living in Georgia and California, the family is hosting two separate Celebration of Life ceremonies so family and friends in both states can pay their respects. We hope you can join us to honor these two special ladies. Here are more details on each event:

Smyrna, Georgia – For friends and family living in metro Atlanta, there will be a service at Carmichael Funeral Home at 2950 King Street, Smyrna, Georgia on Friday, May 26th at 11:00 am, Eastern Time.

Los Gatos, California – A memorial service is planned to take place in Los Gatos, California at the Darling & Fischer Chapel of the Hills at 615 N. Santa Cruz Ave. on Saturday May 27th at 11:00 am, Pacific Time.

Bamah enjoyed recounting stories of her childhood, Indian heritage, and family, and we hope you will bring your own stories of her to share. Also, you are encouraged to wear bright colors to match both Bamah and Patricia’s lively personalities. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Humane Society or the Alzheimer's Association.