Mrs. Barbara Varner Willoughby

Barbara Varner Willoughby of Travelers Rest, SC died at home Thursday, June 28, 2018 surrounded by her loving husband and children.
Barbara was born February 10, 1937 in Thomaston Georgia to Robert James and Josephine Pou Varner. She graduated as Valedictorian from High School in Thomaston and attended Agnes Scott College graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1959. Following college, Barbara married her high school sweetheart and began work as a Y teen program director in Marietta Georgia before starting a family. She lived in Columbus, IN, Atlanta, GA, Huntsville, AL, and Northville, MI prior to retiring with her husband to Travelers Rest, SC. While living in Michigan, she returned to school first obtaining her teaching certifications, followed by a Masters’ Degree in English Education and Reading from Eastern Michigan University in 1982. Barbara served as the Director of Christian Education at First Presbyterian Church in Northville, Michigan and then went on to substitute in both the Northville and South Lyon public schools, and in 1984 began teaching eighth grade English in the Northville Public Schools. Barbara was honored to be recognized with the Golden Apple Award in 1997 as the Outstanding Teacher in South East Michigan, and retired in 1998. Throughout her life, she was always actively involved in her church and community in Thomaston, Georgia, Huntsville, Alabama, Northville, Michigan and Travelers Rest, South Carolina.
Barbara was preceded in death by her sister Joann Varner Hawks. She is survived by her husband Donald, daughter Mary Elisabeth, daughter and son-in-law, Laura and John Grady, son and daughter-in-law, James and Leslie Willoughby, her grandchildren: Katie Jo Grady, Kelli Howie, Colleen Grady, Amanda Willoughby, Ian Willoughby, and Evan Willoughby, and three great grandchildren: Aidan Grady, Rori Howie and Saoirse Howie.
Funeral services will be held Monday, July 2, 2018 at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 405 Trailblazer Dr., Travelers Rest, SC, 29690. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to North Greenville Crisis Ministry, PO Box 1672, Travelers Rest, SC, 29690. The family will receive friends at the church immediately following the service with reception to follow.