After completing two degrees in music from Georgia State College for Women (GSCW) and Columbia University, Barbara moved to Brunswick in 1956 where she began teaching in the Glynn County Public Schools and directing the choir at the St. Simons United Methodist Church. Those two places of service shaped her life and the lives of countless others for many decades. She met her husband Jim in the church choir in October of 1956, they were married the following August, and St. Simons became her home for the rest of her long and beautiful life. Barbara and Jim raised their three children on St. Simons, Tom, Lynn and Cynthia, whom she lovingly referred to as her TLC.
After teaching at Glynn Academy for five years, the remainder of Barbara’s long teaching career was in elementary music, with most of her years spent at St. Simons Elementary School. In addition to that full-time work, she devoted 51 years of service to the church in her role as choir director, where she influenced literally thousands of people of all ages through her faithful leadership in worship and many other musical venues. Barbara was a much-admired and respected fixture in the community, blessing untold numbers of people through her music. She was the founding director of the Golden Isles Community Chorus and directed its annual Messiah performance for 25 years (the last in 2009), a tradition that continues to be cherished throughout the Golden Isles.
She was well known not only for her musical gifts but also for her legendary Meadows Fried Chicken. For many decades, Barbara and Jim organized and cooked chicken dinners to support causes dear to their hearts, including Boy Scout Troop 248, the St. Simons Elementary PTA, the St. Simons United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMFY), and numerous other church and community organizations. Her extraordinary life was marked by faithful service to God as she served her family, her church, and her community with remarkable skill, devotion and love.
In addition to her parents, Barbara was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Jim Meadows, who dearly loved his “Shug” and was her devoted partner in all things; her brother, Harry Thompson, Jr.; and her sister, Evelyn Tharpe.
She is survived by her three children: John Thomas Meadows (Kim) of St. Simons Island; Lynn Meadows-White (Howard) of Columbus, Georgia; and Cynthia Meadows Kopotic of Brunswick. She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Ashley Barton (Caleb), Thomas Meadows (Jordan), and Joshua Meadows of Brunswick/St. Simons; Elizabeth White and John Howard White (Claudia) of Columbus, Georgia; and Gracie Martin (Carson) and Jacob Boatright (Carrie) of Brunswick. She leaves behind nine beloved great-grandchildren: Land, Nova, Fischer, Ruthie, Riley, Willa Grace, Lukas, Dutton, and Briggs (on the way!), as well as many beloved nieces and nephews, and her cherished “adopted” family, Fidaa Saif and her children, Jawa, Dalia, and Jad.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, January 16, at 2:00 PM at the St. Simons United Methodist Church, with a reception and visitation following the service in the church’s Thorpe Building. A private burial will follow. Pallbearers are her grandsons: Thomas Meadows, Jacob Boatright, John Howard White, Joshua Meadows, Caleb Barton, Carson Martin, Clay Robinette, and Jad Darazim.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to St. Simons United Methodist Church, 624 Ocean Blvd., St. Simons Island, GA 31522 or Golden Isles Community Chorus, Inc., P. O. Box 20035, St. Simons Island, GA, 31522, or The Methodist Home for Children and Youth, P.O. Box 2525, Macon, GA 31204.
