Ruby S. “Dandee” Barber, 86, of Fitzgerald died Sunday, August 14, 2011, at her residence.
Funeral services will be held at 4:00 P.M. Wednesday, August 17, at the First Baptist Church with Dr. Mike Ruffin and Dr. Ches Smith officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation will be held 7-9 Tuesday evening at the funeral home.
Mrs. Barber was born March 20, 1925 in Pineview, GA to the late James E. and Susie Graham Surratt. She lived in Fitzgerald most of her life, graduating from Fitzgerald High School in 1942 and attending Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa studying business. Mrs. Barber was a former employee of the Pentagon in Washington, co-owner/operator of Surratt-Sims Lumber Company along with her first husband, David “Popsie” Sims. After receiving her Real Estate & Brokers license, she worked for Link Realty and Century 21in Tifton and was awarded Realtor Associate of the Year in 1980. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and director of the teenager’s Sunday School Department. Mrs. Barber was very active in civic organization such as PTA, Jr. Women’s Club, Beta Sigma Phi, the Racquet Club and the Cherokee Garden Club.
Mrs. Barber is survived by her husband: H.C. Barber of Fitzgerald; daughters: Susan Sims (Shep) Dunn, Belinda Sims (Alan) Dixon and Donna Sims Wilson all of Fitzgerald; grandchildren: Dana Walters, Shelby (Kam) Waldron, John Shep (Laua Lee) Dunn, Nate(Jalee)Wilson, Blake (Allie) Wilson, Jad Dixon, Andee (Hal) Carter, Ashlee (Kevin) Maddrey & Melissa Barber; great grandchildren: Natalee Walters, Abbee Walters, Kane Waldron, Lyndee Waldron, Annee Waldron, Ryan Waldron, Anslee Wilson, Sara Beth Wilson, Briley Wilson, Emily Wilson, Millie Rose Wilson, Millee Carter, Mollee Carter and Yancey Laura Dunn; step children: Anita (Richard) Shanklin and Patricia Barber; sisters: Etta Floyd of Chattanooga, TN and Margaret Tucker of Tifton. Along with her parents and stepmother, Bessie Howell Surratt, she was preceded in death by a son-in-law, James Wilson, grand son-in-law, Wesley Walters and a stepson, Chris Barber, III.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 367, Fitzgerald, GA 31750 or to Blue-Gray Community Hospice, P.O. Box 1447, Fitzgerald, GA 31750.