Neighbors tried saving woman swept away, but floodwaters were too strong

A neighbor says people tried to save a former deputy who died when flood waters swept her away.

Julie Barrs’ body was found a few miles from her car in Murray County after it had been swept away last week.

We learned Barrs, 56, once worked for the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy, and was the first woman to work on the department’s SWAT team. She also teamed up with U.S. Marshals and worked to eradicate human trafficking. She won awards for her work.

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On Wednesday night, Barrs was on Old CCC Camp Road on the way to work. Neighbors say it was raining extremely hard.

“It was the worst I’ve ever seen in my life,” Dottie Billingsley told Channel 2’s Tom Jones.

Billingsley says it was around 10:30 when she received a call from her neighbor.

“He said, ‘I think we’ve lost Julie,’” she recalled.

The stream had overflowed and flooded the road. Barrs’ car was underwater and she was trying to get out.

“She just screamed, ‘Somebody help me,’” Billingsley said.

Her neighbors tried to help.

“‘We’re gonna go get the rope. Wrap your hand around the seatbelt so you won’t float away,’” Billingsley said neighbors shouted at her.

When they came back, Barrs was gone.

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“The stream carried her three miles,” she said.

Barrs was found dead.

“She was a sweetheart,” Billingsley said.

Billingsley says Barrs was a kind and caring neighbor. She described how she would give Barrs colorful stickers to put on envelopes, and instead of putting one sticker on, Barrs would plaster several on and mail them.

Billingsley says she was the best neighbor.

“We laughed. We cut up. Everybody loved her,” she described.

Barrs’ brother told Jones she loved her pets, loved cooking, loved riding her bike and hiking. Her family says she was fierce, smart and determined.

Planning for a celebration of Barrs’ life is underway.

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