APEX — Geneva Franklin Barber, the widow of the Reverend Fred Barber, died Friday, February 8 in Apex, NC. She was 97.
Mr. Barber served for 40 years as a United Methodist minister in the Western North Carolina Conference. He was the founding pastor of The Guilford College United Methodist Church, and also was minister at Davidson County churches including Linwood, Southmont, Tyro, Bethany and Cotton Grove. He retired in 1974 and died in 1986.
Geneva Barber was born on February 19th, 1915, at Jonas Ridge, NC, the daughter of the late Salem and Annie McFalls Franklin. She was married to the Rev. Fred Barber in 1934. She was also preceded in death by her six sisters and one brother, and by her grandson, Mark Christian Barber. She is survived by a daughter, Christine Everett of Apex, and a son, Fred Barber, Jr. (Evelyn) of Cary; by three grandchildren: Eric Barber of Raleigh, Janice Everett of Alexandria, VA, and Kathy Everett of College Park, MD; and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at Jonas Ridge United Methodist Church in northern Burke County on Saturday, February 16, at 2 p.m. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will greet friends following the service.
Memorials may be sent to the Fred and Geneva Barber Scholarship Fund at the Avery UMC Parish, c/o Mrs. Shirley England, 8050 Joe Poore Road, Newland, NC 28657. The Fund provides college tuition assistance for NC mountain students.
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