Shirley Humphreys Barber

A lifelong resident of Baton Rouge, Shirley passed away Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, at Ollie Steele Burden Manor. She was 75. Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., on Tuesday, Dec. 8, from 1 p.m. until a service at 3 p.m. Burial at Roselawn Memorial Park. Shirley is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, Harry W. Barber Jr.; a daughter, Elizabeth "Liz" Barber Spreen and husband Ernie; sons, Harry William "Bill" Barber III and wife Kim, and Niel Humphreys Barber, all of Baton Rouge, and David Dixon Barber and wife Xuan, now living in the Republic of Vietnam. Shirley had 13 grandchildren: Melissa Barber Istre and husband Kevin, Harry William "Will" Barber IV, Judah Benjamin Barber, Canaan Cinclaire Barber, Josiah Alexander Barber, Sarah Irene Barber, Stephen James Barber, Victoria Shirley Barber Lipford, Margaret Duyen Barber, Andrew Niel Barber, Rachel Carol Barber, Sofie Elise Talazac and Irwin Charles Spreen IV. Shirley had a great-grandson, Dylan Eugene Lipford. Also survived by her mother, Margaret Humphreys Mack; sister, Judy Humphreys Weimer and husband Francis; and a brother, David Carlysle Humphreys Jr. and partner Robert Thompson. Shirley was preceded in death by her father, David Carlysle Humphreys Sr.; and grandparents, Hollis A. and Sarah B. Epps and Walter S. and Emily Brown Humphreys. Shirley graduated from Baton Rouge High School in 1952 and attended LSU, where she pledged Kappa Delta sorority. Harry returned from the service at Fort Holabird in Baltimore for the Christmas holidays and did not want to return to the base without Shirley. So they were married Jan. 18, 1953. Shirley was a sustaining member of the Junior League of Baton Rouge, serving as chairman of the first River Road Recipes cookbook. She was a founding member of The Morning Callers Club, a member of the Woman's Club and First Presbyterian Church where she taught Sunday school. Shirley and Harry also were members of the Charity Ball Association. Her special interests included book reading and word search puzzles. She and Harry thoroughly enjoyed vacationing at their summer home in Gulf Shores where they had many friends and good times. Shirley was most known for her great sense of humor and her contagious laugh. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Junior League of Baton Rouge, Hospice of Baton Rouge or a charity of your choice. The family would like to thank the staff at Ollie Steele Burden Manor for all of their love and wonderful care.