Barbara Joan Hunt

“I must begin as a child begins talking to himself making every moment pirouette around himself into heliocentric mind prattle. I listen as a child listens talking to himself through the walls an echo mirrors my own containment a larger room unfolds accordion style I stretch and console myself with the sun skipping toward me.”

Barbara wrote this poem. It is one of a group of poems entitled Refractions, written as part of her doctoral work at Peabody College. Her poetry exemplifies her deep love of words and how they can be strung together to create images and emotions, as well as her life-long appreciation of the complexity, contradictions, and beauty of human existence.

Barbara Joan Hunt passed away on January 4, 2025. A long-time resident of Columbus, Barbara was born in northern Ohio to Francis F. and Viola Witte Hunt in 1951. After graduating high school from Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Case Western Reserve University, with a master’s degree from Indiana University, and with a Ph.D. from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University.

She retired from Columbus State University in 2012 after working there for almost 39 years in various capacities. Her many positions included serving as Chair of the Department of English for 11 years, as Associate Dean of University College for 3 years, and as founding Director of the Honors Program (now the Honors College) for 10 years. She also served as Coordinator of CSU’s “semester conversion” of academic coursework and credits from the quarter system to the semester system (1996-1998). After retiring, she continued to work part time as a project manager for the Office of the Provost.

Survivors include her son Nathaniel H. Chambers (Andrea), grandson Felix, brother Francis Jr. (Barbara), four nieces and nephews, numerous great nieces and nephews, and many cousins. Her greatest joy in life was always her family and friends. Over the years, she traveled all over the US to visit them, whether in NYC, Chicago, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, Florida, or Texas. She was preceded in death by her mother in 1995 and by her father in 2008, whom she was honored to care for in the years prior to his death.

Barbara will be remembered for her quick wit, love of literature, generosity, and ability to make people feel relaxed and comfortable. She always wanted everyone to have a good time and spared no effort to make that happen.

A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held on Friday, January 10, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Striffler Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus, Georgia 31907.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the CSU Foundation for student scholarships in the College of Letters and Sciences, to the CSU Honors College, to Interlochen Arts Academy, or to an animal rescue of choice.