Barbara Proctor

Barbara Annette Elliott Proctor was born June 2, 1952. Barbara was a true native Altantan, born downtown in Piedmont Hospital. She grew up in East Point, GA where she was a cheerleader for the Russell High Wildcats and graduated in 1970. To this day, she keeps in touch with her fellow Wildcats who have regular gatherings to socialize and catch up.

Following in her mother’s footsteps she worked at Ft. McPherson and it was here that she met a handsome soldier named, Harry Proctor, with whom she created a beautiful life. Harry and Barbara would have been married 50 years this upcoming August and this May were planning a big family cruise to celebrate this golden anniversary. As a military family, they spent time in Germany, Virginia, and ultimately Columbus, GA, where they settled once Harry retired. Barbara was a proud and faithful Army wife, even as she stayed back to raise the four children, while Harry was on an unaccompanied assignment in Korea.

Later Barbara attended Columbus College and graduated Suma Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s in Education. She furthered her education by earning her Master’s degree followed by her Specialist’s degree from Troy State University. Barbara taught at E.A. White Elementary School in Ft. Benning, Ga, for her entire 25 plus year career. Barbara was a master educator who touched many lives. This is evidenced by how many of her former students have reached out to her through the years as they became adults. The impact she had on children and on the world is immeasurable. She was also a valued colleague and a dear friend to those she worked with, and up until her passing, had regularly scheduled gatherings with her E A White School buddies.

Family is what made Barbara the happiest. She and Harry raised four wonderful children, of whom they were very proud. Barbara had a unique and special bond with each one. She and their oldest daughter, Alicia, loved shopping together and chasing their latest obsession, whether it be Rae Dunn or milk glass or just “stuff”. Barbara admired how wonderfully talented and creative Alicia is. Together, they loved eating at Tomato Buffet in Newnan, where Barbara loved getting one of her favorite foods, fried green tomatoes. She also loved getting updates about Alicia’s bowling championships and about Alicia’s daughters Ashley and Stephanie and their children.

Each Sunday night, Barbara loved getting her special phone call from her son, Brandon, where they would talk about their week, and she would hear about her grandson, Steven, and her granddaughter, Kelsie. Barbara was really proud of Steven as he just enlisted in the Army. Kelsie was exceptionally special to Barbara, as she dearly loved her MiMi so much. As Brandon was Barbara’s only son, they had a special bond, and Brandon was very protective of his mama.

Her two other daughters, Aimee and Mandy lived close by, and they saw each other many times throughout the week and talked on the phone daily. In the last couple of years, they had regularly scheduled lunch and dinner dates. Aimee and Mandy were alumni of UGA, and Barbara became an avid Bulldog fan herself, loving to dress in red and black and watch games with the family. Aimee and Mandy also gave Barbara two more people to cherish, her sons-in-law, Aaron and Blake, and she adored each of them.

Aimee and Aaron gave Barbara three more grandchildren to love Alyse, Aaden, and Ashton. Mandy and Blake gave her four more grandchildren Luke, Levi, Ella Love, and Annabelle. These seven grandchildren kept Barbara quite busy. If possible, she never missed a little league baseball or softball game, a dance recital, a cross-country meet, or a band halftime performance. Barbara wondered what she would do once she retired, and her grandchildren loudly answered that question.

In addition to her children and grandchildren, Barbara’s sisters meant everything to her. Since her sister Lisa lives several hours away, they would often spend many hours on the phone, often talking late into the night. Barbara loved to visit Lisa and act silly with Lisa’s granddaughter, Millie.

Her sister, Tammy, lived close by, and they spent many hours together every week, shopping, having weekly dinners, or just hanging out at Barbara’s. Each summer, the two of them made a “pilgrimage” to the special areas of Atlanta where they grew up, so they could reminisce and take pictures just to be able to talk about the many memories they shared growing up. Their special times included walking arm and arm through Oakland Cemetery on their annual “ghost tour” and through the streets of some city on one of their girls’ trips. Their last dinner together was just two days before Barbara’s passing. They were truly two peas in a pod.

For the last 11 years, Barbara, along with the other girls in the family, took a girls’ trip. They went to such places as NYC, Charleston, Santa Fe, Quebec and this last year to New Hampshire and Maine. The trip was usually in December, but thankfully this year, they made the decision to take it in October, not knowing it would be Barbara’s last.

Travel was a big part of Barbara’s life in other ways also. She and Harry loved taking trips with family and special friends. Camping was recently also a favorite activity.

For years, Barbara, Harry, Brandon, Aimee, Mandy plus nine grandkids rented a house at the beach for a week. Each night, Brandon cooked lavish meals, and the house was full of love, laughter, and even a little chaos.

She and Harry also took many travel adventures alone or with friends. They went to such places as Mackinac Island, Maine, Vermont, Alaska and perhaps their favorite, a New England cruise. Barbara loved to visit places with her loving husband and friends.

Besides traveling together, one of Barbara and Harry’s favorite things to do was to watch the Braves play or even better, catch a game in-person. Last year, she found a new team to support in the Columbus Clingstones and went to many games. Barbara’s favorite game to actually play was “Left, Right, Center” and she loved playing it at family events.

Barbara also had a profound love and passion for animals. She loved birds, cats, and especially Dachshunds. She had her treasured “Ralphie” for 17 years, and the family finds comfort in knowing that Ralphie is once again able to lay in Barbara’s lap. Just this year, Barbara and Harry gained a new family member named “Frankie” whose rambunctious puppy spirit had been keeping them both on their toes. We are now so glad Harry will have a buddy in Frankie.

Our beautiful Barbara unexpectedly left this earth on December 7 surrounded by her family who loved and adored her. She was preceded in death by her mother, Vera Vinson Thompson and her sister Cheryl (Sherry) June Elliott. Her survivors include her loving spouse, Harry; daughter, Alicia Jackson (Thomas East), of Grantville; son, Brandon Proctor of Columbus; daughter Aimee Vaillant (Aaron) of Ellerslie; daughter Mandy Riley (Blake) of Waverly Hall; grandchildren Ashley, Stephanie, Steven, Kelsie, Alyse, Aaden, Ashton, Luke, Levi, Ella Love, and Annabelle, and six great grandchildren; sister, Tammy Bailey (Dennis) of Columbus and nephew Shea and nieces Summer and Sierra (Trevor); sister, Lisa Wood (Tim) of Ellijay and nephews TJ, Andrew, Nick and niece, Abby. We are all heart-broken but we find strength in knowing she is in her heavenly home and is reunited with others she loved dearly. Those of us left behind will be sustained by our beautiful memories and the knowledge that one day we will be reunited in God’s kingdom.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, January 31, from 11-1 at The River of Life Church in Hamilton, GA. In the meantime, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to any Humane Society or plants sent that could be planted at her home in her memory.