Barbara Duke McCutchen

Barbara Duke McCutchen, 88, was born May 16th, 1935 in Kingstree, SC and passed away peacefully at her home, Still Hopes Retirement Community, surrounded by her loved ones on Monday, December 11th, 2023. She was the daughter of the late John Milton and Erline McIntosh Duke. She graduated from Kingstree High School and attended Columbia College.

Barbara was a life-long member of Williamsburg Presbyterian Church where she was married to her late husband, Edsel, sang in the choir, served as the moderator of the Presbyterian Women, sang with the Ginger Snappers, and was a member of the Hut Sunday School class in which she served as their president. She was a long-time trustee of Williamsburg Cemetery Committee, member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and the Garden Club. When she was presented with the Williamsburg Presbyterian Women’s Honor Award in 2002, it was said of her that whenever she was asked to serve, she served willingly. She was one who served the Lord quietly and effectively, always shying away from the limelight.

Barbara met Edsel during high school in Kingstree, SC, where they quickly formed a relationship and went on to be married in 1954. Welcoming their first child in 1955, they went on to have three more children together, creating their beautiful family of six. Neither were ever afraid to keep each other in check, but also never wavered in their love or commitment to one another for 65 years.

After being married for several years they moved to East Point, GA and then on to Columbia, SC before heading back to live in Decatur, GA, and then returning to their hometown of Kingstree in 1977.

In 2007, Barbara and her husband, Edsel, moved from Kingstree to Columbia to be closer to family. She became a member of Shandon United Methodist Church and a member of the JOY Sunday School class. There was nothing she loved more than to able to be at any event in which her grandchildren were participating. She was their biggest cheerleader and was not afraid to give her opinion to anyone that was willing to listen. She was truly the matriarch of the family, keeping everyone in line. Barbara loved her Carolina Gamecocks, the Georgia Bulldogs, and the Atlanta Braves.

Surviving her are her younger brother, A.C. Duke of Kingstree, SC; her daughter, Amy McCutchen Meetze (Joley) of Columbia, SC; sons, Eddie McCutchen of Atlanta, GA and Kevin McCutchen (Rami) of Columbia, SC; and six grandchildren, Kristen McCutchen Walsh (Andy) and Keri McCutchen Filakosky (Zac) both of Santa Rosa Beach, FL, Knox McCutchen of Washington, DC, Alli McCutchen of Atlanta, GA, Rachel McCutchen of Fort Worth, TX, and Lily Meetze of Columbia, SC. Barbara also had six great-grandchildren along with a host of nieces and nephews who loved her dearly. In addition to her parents, she was pre-deceased by her husband, Herbert Edsel McCutchen, and their daughter, Sue McCutchen Scott, as well as six siblings (“Skinny”, Nell, Eleanor, “Boots”, Lynwood, and Raymond).

A special thank you to all of the staff in the Broad neighborhood at Still Hopes Retirement Community who took such great care of her.

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, December 15th, 2023 at Shandon United Methodist Church, 3407 Devine St, Columbia, SC. Rev. C.E. “Smoke” Kanipe will officiate. The burial will be at 3:00 p.m. at Sandy Bay Cemetery, 1594 McCutchen Rd, Cades, SC 29518 with Mr. Marion E. Cobb presiding. The family will receive friends Thursday, December 14th, 2023, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the home of Kevin and Rami McCutchen, 300 Crown Point Rd in Columbia. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family.

Serving as pallbearers will be Knox McCutchen, Cayden Walsh, Zac Filakosky, Andy Walsh, Barry Avant, and Kip Duke. The JOY Sunday School class will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Memorials may be made to Shandon United Methodist Church, 3407 Devine Street Columbia, SC 29205 and Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, 411 N. Academy Street, Kingstree, SC 29556.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.