Barbara Jeanette Aldridge Neely

Barbara Jeanette Aldridge Neely, age 88, passed away January 1, 2021 at Norton’s Brownsboro Hospital in Louisville, KY. She was born April 15th, 1932, in Jackson, Tennessee to Jesse Curtis and Addie Aldridge. She married her loving husband in 1950 and remained married to him until his death on December 16, 2010. She is a graduate of Northside High School and West Tennessee Business College in Jackson, Tennessee. Jeanette spent her adult life as a homemaker and advocate for special needs children and adults. She worked tirelessly developing programs and improving education for those who couldn’t speak for themselves. She received an award for Woman of the Year in Obion County, Tennessee due to her work for special needs children. She then served as president of Obion County Special Needs Association. She continued to be an active participant in the New Horizons Group organized and developed by Rebecca Jackson in Louisville, KY throughout the years.

Her life was a living example of Proverbs 31:26-27: “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness”. Barbara Jeanette always remembered her words have meaning and that caring for her home and family was of upmost importance. She always used her words to build up and not tear down. She lived her entire life serving her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; always setting an example for her children, grandchildren, and all who knew her. She was a member of Parkland Baptist Church.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, James Early Neely; her parents, Jesse Curtis and Addie Norton Aldridge; siblings Jesse Curtis Aldridge Jr. and infant sister, Elizabeth Aldridge. Barbara is survived by her three children, Karen Diane Barrentine, Barbara Ann Neely, and Kathryn Lynn Norris; two grandchildren, Elisabeta Andreea Barrentine and Jacob Michael Norris; and son-in-law, William John Norris.

You can join us in celebrating Barbara’s life virtually at 2 PM on Monday, January 11, 2021. Visit our Facebook page “Arch L. Heady at Resthaven”, and ‘like’ the page, and you will receive a notification at 2PM when the service begins streaming.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Parkland Baptist Church (7206 Shepherdsville Road, Louisville, KY 40219), in honor of the Good Samaritans special needs adult ministry.