Elizabeth Sue Barbee

Born September 5, 1936 in Port Arthur, Texas, Elizabeth Sue Barbee was the only child of Dorough Holden Ferrell and Eloise Lamar Ferrell. Sue (never Elizabeth) grew up in Port Arthur, attended the University of Texas and then Lamar University, earning an early education teaching degree. She met her future husband, Jack Barbee, at a next door neighbor. After Jack graduated from Texas A&M, they married in 1957 moving to Beaumont, Texas. In 1961 Sharon Louise was born, followed by Linda Sue in 1963.

Multiple moves followed: Indiana, Connecticut,New Jersey, Virginia, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. Along the way, the two only children collected life-long friends. Thanks to their overseas move, they traveled the world. And when home, they spent hours sailing the Chesapeake Bay, playing bridge, meeting friends for coffee or dinner, and spending time with family. Sue’s faith was the foundation of her life, and where ever she lived, she served her Jesus as a deacon, Bible study leader, and Stephen Minister.

Sue was kind, classy, calm, smart, and gracious. She was also sassy, seriously organized, and a perfectionist. Fresh baked cookies were rarely a thing in our house. But adventure was. Camping, sailing, tennis, tree climbing and wild rides downhill in a red wagon. Then there were the quite hours with books and magazines. She also found pleasure in gardening and nature. All of what she was, including her faith in Jesus, she shared with us and we see it passed down into the lives of her children and grandchildren: adventurers, believers, readers, and nature lovers.

She died the night before our father’s 90th birthday, before Parkinson’s took total control. She got to spend it with him. We think that was her plan. Sue was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Warren Barbee. She is survived and lovingly remembered by her daughters: Sharon Wootten (Michael) and Linda Mitchell (William). In addition, she has is survived by six grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

A Service of Remembrance with reception to follow will be held Saturday, November 30 at 10 a.m. in the chapel at Vienna Presbyterian Church 124 Park Street NE, Vienna, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Parkinson’s Foundation (Parkinson.org) or to the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (pda.pcusa.org).