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Helen Elizabeth Moore Barber of Clinton, N.C. , age 89, died at home with her daughters by her side – as a result of a 3 yr. battle with colon cancer.
Funeral Services will be held on Monday, April 4, 2022 at 2:00 pm at Grove Park Baptist Church with Rev. Michael Shook and Rev. Cameron Dunn officiating. Burial will follow in the Clinton Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be held on Sunday, April 3, 2022 from 6-8 pm at Royal-Hall Funeral Home and other times at her home.
She was born May 11, 1932 to Raymond Lee Moore Sr. (1970) and Annie Norcom King Moore (1950). She grew up on a farm in South Clinton. Her father was a farmer and her mother was a Registered Nurse (until her early death at 45 years old.) On Dec. 6, 1953, she married Garland J. Barber. She graduated from Clinton High School (1950). She was an employee of Carolina Telephone & Telegraph as an operator (until 1963). She met Garland J. Barber and they married Dec. 6, 1953. She left the phone company in 1963 to stay home to raise her girls. She was an active “grade parent” all throughout their elementary years. She took the children on field trips, helped with classroom parties and took many homemade goodies to the classes. In 1978, she then returned to work as a Teacher’s assistant with Clinton City Schools (College Street School and L.C. Kerr School) until she retired at the age of 60 (in 1993).
Helen was an active member of Grove Park Baptist Church; member of The Gleanors Sunday School Class; past co-chair of WASP program; past library worker at church and played an active part in the development of the church library. Many of the children at church called her Grandma; and she especially enjoyed the church’s Senior Trips prior to her illness and was definitely a “missing presence” of the church family when she could no longer attend.
She was a member of the Women’s Police Auxillary. She was a faithful participant at The Wellness Center until January 2019. She also enjoyed eating out, spending time with her family and friends, and reading. One of her favorite hobbies was “tatting” (which is a lace needlepoint craft). She made many snowflakes, crosses, handkerchiefs and bookmarks. She was so talented that she was asked to be a demonstrator at the Sampson County History Museum for many years during the Street Fair – to show people this long-lost art of needlepoint handiwork. A special friend, Theresa Patterson, taught her how to tat and visited her often. Theresa tatted a special cross as a personal love and appreciation to her to adorn her casket.
She loved people and talking to them. She enjoyed cooking in her earlier years – and made many cakes that her husband took to the courthouse and other local branches of law enforcement.
Helen was a patient and kind person – and she had the best attitude with her cancer diagnosis and treatment. She tolerated it with strength and dignity even though she was frail. She loved to laugh and chat with people to find out if she knew their relatives. Her smile was her trademark because she always smiled. She had some dear friends that were loyal to her during her sickness. When a close friend died, she mourned her death in a gracious manner.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her spouse, Garland J. Barber (1985); her beloved grandson, Wesley Ryan Parker (2009) and her brother, Ray Moore (1987).
She is survived by: her two daughters – Judy Barber Parker (Herbert Glenn) and Ruth Barber-Rich (Don) of Clinton, NC and a grandson Trey Andrew Parker (Alex) of Atlanta, GA.) and a great grand-daughter, Aiden Christine Parker (born October 20, 2021) and her cat, Elly. She is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces & nephews and a host of friends. Sandling Merritt and Archie Anders (Raleigh, NC) were her first cousins, but were more like brothers to her.
The family would like to thank the Doctors and staff at SMOC; Dr. John Smith & Staff (now retired); and all the friends and family that prayed for her, visited, called, sent cards and did things for her. During her sickness, with the pandemic, visiting normally was prohibited – but to everyone that reached out in any way, please know that she was deeply appreciative. It helped her to go on with pride and dignity and felt like she was loved.
Flowers are welcome or donations may be made in her memory to: GPBC, 609 NE Blvd., Clinton, NC 28328 (Memorial Fund in her name for a special project); or to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital by mailing to: 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or by visiting online: www.stjude.org
Royal-Hall is honored to serve the Barber family.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mrs. Helen Elizabeth (Moore) Barber, please visit our floral store.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105
Tel: 1-800-805-5856
Web: http://www.stjude.org/memorialgifts