Barbara A Bise

LEXINGTON - In the building next to Lexington’s Village Square Theater hang racks and racks of costumes, worn by young actors over the years in their big spotlight moments: Dorothy’s blue gingham dress and ruby slippers. Shrek’s green ogre head. Cool ’50s-style jackets the Pink Ladies wore in “Grease.” Plus thousands of vintage dresses, soldier uniforms, cowboy hats, pith helmets and, high in the rafters, Charlie Brown’s giant unflyable kite.

In 30 years with the Lexington County Arts Association, Barbara Bise collected and fussed over nearly every costume and prop at the theater, in addition to acting, producing and balancing financial books. Generations of young actors and many others in Lexington know her as “Miss Barbara.”

The costume shop – which raises money by leasing wardrobes to theaters across the Southeast – is named in her honor. So is the boardwalk leading to it, where she hurried most days, preparing for the next production or to head off the latest crisis. And if you ever sit up front at the theater, you might even be in seats given in her honor– “Row B.”

Barbara Williams Bise died March 23, 2015. She was 81.

Survivors include her husband, Grover “Sonny” Bise; brother, Frank Williams; daughter, Donna Bise and her husband Greg Ring; sons, Michael Bise and his wife Deborah, Tom Bise and his wife Susan; and grandchildren, Hannah Bise, Cory Bise Ring, Kristian Bise Ring and his wife Alicia Storin.

Barbara was born in New Brookland (West Columbia) on Oct. 9, 1933, the daughter of Lorine Lybrand and Furney Williams. At Brookland-Cayce High School, she was a top student, high-stepping majorette and stunning brunette. Friends called her Barbara Ann.

She met Sonny Bise, the future S.C. High School Hall of Fame tight end, at an 8th grade birthday party and they married after high school. As Sonny started his Air Force career, Barbara raised their family – sometimes on her own while Sonny was stationed overseas. Other times, they packed up the kids and all moved together, including for four years to Portugal, where Barbara learned enough of a new language to haggle at local markets and make friendships that last today.

When Sonny came back to the states to work at the Pentagon, Barbara began her own career in banking, first in Washington D.C. and later in Columbia. She always had a mind for numbers and excelled at financial planning, eventually retiring from NationsBank in 1994.

After moving to Lexington in 1975, the family joined Providence Lutheran Church, where Barbara was a linchpin for 40 years. Behind the scenes, she kept the books, paid bills and served on council. On Sunday mornings in the choir, she sang out joyfully. If you didn’t hear Barbara’s soprano singing the Psalms, something was missing.

In 1985 Barbara began her work with the Lexington County Arts Association. Urged on by her little brother Frank, they performed together first in “South Pacific.” In all, she worked on more than 125 shows and was financial secretary at VST.

“As I pulled and put away costumes this year, I remember every story you shared about every show and the actors in them,” a colleague wrote. “Without ever trying, you became a legacy – your fingerprints and love are everywhere at Village Square Theater.”

Her most important role, however, was as busy caregiver for family and friends. If you were struggling with illness or age, or just needed a hug, Barbara always found time to help. She cared.

Over the last months, a parade of people who loved Barbara streamed by. Theater folks brought a video of the first show in decades that she missed. Her theater “kids” lifted her spirits with show songs and Christmas carols. The Providence choir gathered around her bed to sing hymns. Church members dropped off food daily. Old friends laughed and cried.

The family would especially like to thank Providence Pastor Patti Sue Burton-Pye, who was always there with communion, love and the promise of something better.

Also, thank you to the Providence church family for their unending support. To Amanda Moore and Kaleb Mustain, of All Seasons Hospice, for care that allowed Barbara to remain at home, surrounded by those she loved, for as long as possible.

And thanks to BC best friends Mayward Vaughn, Joyce Spigner, Betty Franklin and to her theater family, past and present who brought her so much joy – especially her costuming buddies, Nancy Huffines and Edie Varn – and all who answered her call to support LCAA over the years.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Providence Lutheran Church, 840 Old Chapin Road, Lexington, SC 29072.

http://www.providencelutheranchurch.com.

Or: Lexington County Arts Association, PO Box 412, Lexington,SC 29071.

http://www.villagesquaretheatre.com.

Visitation is from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday March 26, 2015 at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel.

Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 p.m.. Sunday March 29, 2015 at Providence Lutheran Church, with burial in the church cemetery. Afterwards the family will receive guests in the church sanctuary.