Barbara Ann Holder Gilles, age 86, of House Springs, Missouri, entered into the presence of the Lord on Friday, March 15, 2019. She was born January 13, 1933, in Louisville, Mississippi, to Earl Jackson and Annie Bell (Williamson) Holder. She was the oldest of four and the only daughter.
Barbara is survived by daughters Amenda Grose. LaQutia Ebert, and a brother David "Dickie" Holder. She was preceded in death by her husband Monroe Gilles, brothers Bennie and J. V. Holder, and son-in-law John Ebert. She was the cherished grandmother of Lauren, Danielle (Joey) and Alexis and great-grandmother of Ryan, Cole, Miles and Macey. Treasured aunt, cousin and friend to many.
Barbara was born and raised on a small cotton farm in eastern Mississippi. Growing up she worked on the farm, picked cotton and milked cows. In high school Barbara played basketball and earned a scholarship to East Mississippi Junior College where she was a member of the 1953 undefeated state championship basketball team. She went on to graduate from Mississippi State University and began her teaching career in Bell City, Mo., where she met her husband Monroe. She then moved to the Northwest R-1 school district, retiring in 1993 as a 5th grade teacher at House Springs Elementary School.
She was the first teacher to pioneer the Texas Instruments TI-99 Model home computer in the classroom. Barbara aligned with the local postmaster to establish The Ben Franklin Stamp Club. She was a member of Missouri State Teachers Association and the National Education Association.
During her 40 years of teaching she educated her students by making learning fun. Barbara would delight her "kids" by sporting a wide variety of wigs and costumes -- many of them handmade -- to help students remember and recall their lessons. Furthermore, her daughters Amenda and LaQutia recall that their mother shared her green thumb and passion for gardening in the classroom. Barbara cultivated a variety of plants, flowers, multiple aquariums, and even vegetables and incorporated them in her lesson plans. Her classroom resembled a rain forest jungle with all the greenery.
Barbara loved God’s word and took time each day to read the Bible. She was a member of Fellowship First Baptist Church of High Ridge, Mo. She was esteemed and relished by her daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and will be poignantly missed.
Memorial donations in Barbara’s honor are appreciated to the Alzheimer’s Association, American Diabetes Association or the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.
A private family going home celebration was held at Heiligtag-Lang-Fendler Funeral Home.
