Barbara May Mueller

Barbara was born in Rochester, New York on January 8, 1943 to Sally and Oliver Mueller. Her early years were spent in New England and Pennsylvania. Living in New Hope, Pennsylvania, an artistic colony of sorts, with two creative and loving parents and a devoted brother, she developed a love for the arts that carried on throughout her life.

Barbara attended Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland for her undergraduate studies, and after beginning a career in city planning, continued her education at The Catholic University of America in Washington DC. There she received a Masters of City and Regional Planning while working full-time. Barbara worked extensively as a city planner in Fairfax County, Virginia, a profession that called upon her skills in sketching, drafting, and design. When her children were born, she transitioned into the role of a full-time artist, relocating to St. Simons (where her parents had previously retired) in 1991. Her paintings became well known on the island as she generously donated them to many a cause, and was featured in local shows and galleries. Barbara began working with the Byrd Cookie Company in the late 90’s to produce a series of cookie tins featuring prominent southern sites. Barbara’s friends became accustomed to receiving paintings and cookie tins to celebrate them and their special occasions. Her paintings were not the only source of her generosity as Barbara immediately began volunteering her time, knowledge, and talents to better the community in which she lived upon moving to the area.

She was a champion of education, forever encouraging her children and those around her to use their God-given talents and to continue learning. To this end, she donated her time, energy, and talents to Frederica Academy for over 20 years, serving on the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee for over 15 years, including a term spent as Board Secretary. Barbara was also a member of the Education, Building and Grounds, and Trustee Committees and chaired the Strategic Plan initiatives for four years. In 2011, Frederica Academy’s Board of Directors elected Barbara a Trustee Emeritus in recognition of her selfless contributions and exemplary service.

She was a champion of the arts. She used her gifts to create beautiful oil paintings depicting iconic St. Simons scenes and to capture special moments and places that her clients and friends wished to have forever remembered in her art. Her contributions to artistic organizations were endless, and she worked tirelessly to further their visibility and missions in the community. Barbara began volunteering with the Island Players Theater in 1991. Her roles in the theater were numerous, and her name was found on countless playbills listed as Set Designer, Producer, Board Member, and Board President. Barbara’s set designs were special, not only because of the unique artistic talents she possessed, but also because of her ability to find talent in others and to encourage and grow these talents in her fellow volunteers. Barbara was a member of the team who founded the Island Players Scholarship, a fund created to assist local youth with college tuition, and she assisted in developing criteria for selection of recipients. She was bestowed the ‘Lifetime Member’ award for 2007-2008 in recognition of her lifetime of contributions and loyalty to the theater. She began teaching at Glynn Art Association in 1996. She served on the board for several years, including time spent as President. Barbara also served as a board member of GIAHA and was the President of the board from 97-98.

She was proud of the place where she lived. Barbara was the unofficial artist for the Christ Church Tour of Homes for the past 20 years and created beautiful sketches of each home featured on the tour. Working with the Episcopal Church Women, a group she was slated to lead in 2016, she assisted in fundraising efforts through the sale of items featuring her artwork. Barbara was always happy to give her time and energy to an organization that would better the island she loved. Friends and family would be offered the world famous “Barbara tour” of the island upon a first visit as she studied the history of her home town and took great joy in sharing it and the island’s beauty with newcomers.

Most importantly, Barbara was a devoted mother who would do anything for her children, a loyal friend who provided support and encouragement to everyone in her life, an eternal optimist, a leader, an animal lover, a proud Scottish descendant who made delicious shortbread to prove it, and a joy to all who knew her. Listing Barbara’s accomplishments cannot do her justice as facts and dates fail to convey her contagious laughter and wit, her endless vibrancy and energy, her devotion to her family and friends, her generous spirit, her intelligence, and her loyalty to this community and to the organizations that enrich the lives of its residents. The loss of Barbara is unexpected and devastating, but her memories will live on in the many lives she touched, the friends who knew her, the paintings that hang on so many walls near and far, and in the hearts of those who loved her. Barbara is pre-deceased by her loving parents, Oliver and Sally Mueller, and survived by her brother, James Mueller, her children, Etan and Talia Levine, daughter-in-law, Amanda Leech, and treasured grandchild, John “Cooper” Levine.

Barbara’s service will be held at Christ Church on Saturday, December 27th at 11am with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a scholarship fund that has been developed in Barbara’s honor, The Barbara Mueller Scholarship Foundation. Checks can be mailed directly to Coastal Bank of Georgia at 1625 Frederica Road, St. Simons Island, GA 31522.

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