Barbara A Lyons

Barbara Anne Young Lyons            September 22, 1944-February 16, 2014   Barbara Anne Young Lyons of Hoover, Alabama, passed away February 16, 2014 at the age of 69. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Born September 22, 1944 in Augusta, Georgia, Barbara was the only child of Garnett Edward “GE” Young and Ruby Lee Taunton Young.  She was a long-time member of Shades Crest Baptist Church.   The Young Family moved from Augusta to the western area of Birmingham, Alabama, in about 1950, where Barbara attended Robert E. Lee Elementary School and graduated from West End High School. Barbara was active in numerous school activities and was a cheerleader. She graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Elementary Education in 1965.  She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority.   She married her high school and college sweetheart James “Jim “Wilton Lyons Jr. on June 5, 1965 at Berney Points Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. They were married for 48 years.   After graduation from Auburn, the couple moved to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida in March 1966. While there, she taught briefly at Palm Beach Gardens Elementary School and gave birth to her children, James “Kevin” Lyons and Amy Elizabeth Lyons. While there, the family especially enjoyed trips to Cape Kennedy to watch launches of Saturn 5 moon rockets.   In May of 1973, the family returned to the Birmingham, Alabama area and resided in Hoover, Alabama in the Bluff Park Community for 29 years.  In January of 2000, Barbara and Jim relocated to the Northern Shelby County area of Hoover.   Due to God’s grace and because of Barbara’s strength and determination, she has been called a “cancer survivor” for 24 years. Her family realizes these 24 years were the most precious and were truly a gift from God. During this time, she traveled and spent quality time with Jim.  She celebrated as both of her children graduated from Auburn University. She cheered for the Auburn Tigers during both winning and losing seasons. She watched both of her children marry and start families. She loved daughter-in-law, Janet, and son-in-law, Brian, as if they were her own children. She was present when each of her four grandchildren was born. Without these 24 years, her grandchildren would not have had the opportunity to know her and to be shaped by her self-less character.   Barbara loved Hoover, Alabama, and worked tirelessly for the community. She assumed a leadership role in a number of organizations. She was a Charter Member of the Hoover Historical Society and a Co-Founder of the Hoover Arts Alliance.  She held many offices in the Shades Mountain Women’s Club, was a member of the Friends of the Hoover Library, Hoover Service Club and Aldrich Gardens. She was a troop leader for the Girl Scouts of America for many years. She received numerous awards from these organizations. In 1978, she received a Certificate of Recognition for co-founding the Berry Juniorettes in Hoover. She also received recognition in 1977-1979 from the National League for Nursing for her leadership role in the State of Alabama Childhood Immunization Project. In 1979, she was nominated for the Birmingham Distinguished Woman of the year by the Birmingham Jaycees. She was awarded the Flora Mae Pike Service Award in 2003. She received the Friends of Hoover Service Award in 2012 for her many years of service to the community.   Most recently, as a Hoover Historical Society leader, she was a key member of a team that preserved an important part of Hoover’s history, the Crawford (Bluff Park) Fire Tower Cab. She served as the liaison to the city of Hoover during this project.  Both historians and students will benefit from her work for many years to come.   Barbara was preceded in death by her parents Garnett Edward “GE” Young and Ruby Lee Taunton Young. Survivors include her husband James “Jim” Wilton Lyons Jr. of Hoover, Alabama; son, James “Kevin” Lyons and daughter-in-law, Janet, of Suwanee, Georgia; daughter, Amy Elizabeth Lyons Haynes, Ph.D. and son-in-law, Brian, of Dalton, Georgia; grandchildren, Brady Edward Lyons, Erin Ann Lyons, Nathan Edward Haynes, and Davis Wilton Haynes; and sister-in-law, Carol Lynne Lyons of Fairfield, Alabama; and a host of relatives and friends. She will be sadly missed by her family and the many friends who have worked with her over the years.   The family would like to give thanks to Golden Living Center-Riverchase and Alacare Home Health & Hospice for the care given to Barbara during her illness.   Visitation will be from 12 Noon to 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday February 19, 2014 at Johns- Ridouts Mortuary-Elmwood Chapel.  The service will begin at 2:00 P.M. with Dr. Brian Lee, Pastor of Shades Crest Baptist Church officiating. Internment will take place at Elmwood Cemetery immediately following the service.   In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Hoover Historical Society Scholarship Fund (PO Box 360233, Hoover, AL 35236-0233) or Hoover Arts Alliance Scholarship Fund (PO Box 26187, Hoover, AL 35260).