Barbara Kelley Chapman

Barbara was born in Wauchula, Florida to Helen Grice and Lloyd Cleveland Kelley. She met her first husband (Mark Chapman) in high school in the small town of Frostproof, Florida and soon after they had their first child, Allen. Seven year later in Atlanta, Georgia she gave birth to her second son, Matthew.

Barbara worked in administrative support positions for department stores Macy’s and Rich’s as well as Orkin Pest Control and the Nature Company in Atlanta. Later in life she met Ted Collins and the two of them would marry and boldly move to Franklin, North Carolina to fulfill their dream of a mountain farm life. They purchased a century old saddleback home with eight acres of land on Battle Branch Road and began a decade long project of restoring and improving their home.

During these years in Franklin, Ted worked part-time and Barbara worked as an administrative support position at Western Carolina University. They spent nights and weekends renovating, gardening, raising chickens and living off of their land.

Ted passed away in 2014. Barbara continued to live in Franklin where she worked part time for the local Sheriffs office until 2020, when she moved to Mobile, Alabama to be closer to family.

Barbara was a Master Gardner and a soap maker. She enjoyed the friendships she made at the local tailgate markets selling her goods. She took pride in teaching others about gardening, soap making and nature. She loved her pets: Daisy, Posey and Jake, and she loved being Grandma B to her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She is survived by sons Allen Chapman (Debbie) and Matthew Chapman (Cristina), grandchildren Jamie Chapman (Mary), Ashley Chapman Favors (Drew), Lexi Stevens (Robby), Dillon Meldrim (Carliegh), Libbie Meldrim (Lem), Leeann Morris (Dylan) and Grace Carolyn DeRosa Chapman. She is also survived by her great grandchildren Bentley Robert Chapman, James Beckham Chapman, Lennox Seth Meldrim, Lucas Robert Stevens, Salem Michael Burton, sister Jeraldine Bates (Mark), brother Butch Ambrose and niece Debbie McGhee Underwood.

The family would like to thank SAAD’s Hospice for the love, care and support they provided these last few days and the staff of The Brennity assisted living care in Daphne.

In Lieu of flowers, the family request that you consider a donation in her name to the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.