Barbara Worrell Jessup

Barbara Worrell Jessup, born May 30, 1937, in Detroit, Michigan, passed away at her home in Henrico County on April 12, 2024. She was preceded in death by her parents Laurie Lee and Lucille Gilliam Worrell, a special cousin, Phillip Fortune, aunts, uncles and cousins. Barbara graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School and then Westhampton College, University of Richmond with a major in music.

Barbara taught grades 4,5,6 for 30 years in Virginia and one in Kentucky, retiring in 1994. She was given a life membership in the Maude Trevvett Elementary School PTA for her 25 years of dedicated service to the students, both as a teacher and by playing the piano for the school chorus.

As an active member of Ginter Park Methodist Church, Barbara served on the Church Council, Memorial Garden, Memorial Foundation, Usher and Worship Committees and belonged to the UMW. Through the years she was active in the Bryan Parkway Civic Association and the Ginter Park Women’s Club. Her love of gardening and flower arrangement led to her membership in the Ginter Park Garden Club. Being a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an educational sorority, for over 40 years allowed her to share her love of helping others through the chapters many altruistic activities.

Barbara enjoyed traveling particularly with her cousin Phillip and they visited four continents. Completing her own designs in needlepoint as well as patterns created by others was a favorite activity. She enjoyed classical music, especially opera, plus the theater and had served one year as musical director of her church in Waynesville, North Carolina.

As a member of the Historic Preservation Guild, her belief in historical preservation led to participation in the restoration of the AP Hill Statue, Liberty Statue in Chimborazo Park and refurbishment of historical markers in the City of Richmond. Barbara was particularly interested in the restoration of Thomas Jefferson’s home, Poplar Forest, in Forest, Virginia, near Lynchburg.

A celebration of her life will be held at the Ginter Park Methodist Church, 1010 W. Laburnum Avenue, Richmond on May 29,2024 with a visitation/reception at 1:00pm and the service at 2:00pm with interment to follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery and Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Barbara may be made to the Ginter Park Methodist Church,1010 W. Laburnum Ave, Richmond, VA 23227 or the Alpha Delta Kappa Foundation, 1615 West 92nd Street, Kansas City, MO 64114.