Barbara Christian

Barbara Badt Christian, a true force of nature if there ever was one, passed away at age 90 on Saturday, June 24, 2023, in San Antonio, Texas. She leaves behind a large community of loved ones, friends and fans, all of whom enjoyed the warmth of her wit and affection.

To her loving public, Barbara was best known as “Madam Mayor,” having presided over the travails and follies of the city of Terrell Hills for over 20 years. She relished this role not only because she enjoyed solving problems and making friends, but also because it allowed her to make the world a slightly better place. It was this ethos that also led her to enjoy leadership roles as varied as overseeing city-wide agencies (as a board member of Via) to participating in her townhouse board. After receiving her teaching degree from SMU (where she was a proud Pi Phi), Barbara taught elementary school, but soon spread her wings by assuming earlier leadership roles at Travelers Aid and Planned Parenthood. She was a passionate advocate and wielded her authority with honor.

Outside of her public persona, Barbara was a queen bee and mother hen to anyone seeking advice or companionship. She was warm, sassy, and wise, emanating her East Texas charm from beneath her signature “helmet” hairdo. Despite the natural narrowing of social circles as time went by, Barbara maintained an enormous congregation of devotees who regularly dialed her up or dropped by at cocktail hour. Thank you to everyone who kept her life interesting and fun until the very end; she was so lucky to be able to remain independent and connected into her last days.

Barbara had her competitive side. Her favorite activity, besides bragging about her grandchildren, was playing bridge. She let us all know that she won at duplicate last week. COVID nearly killed her, not because of the virus, but because her bridge games were shut down and we wouldn’t let her go to the beauty shop. Tough times indeed.

Barbara was born in Dallas, the product of a “mixed marriage” that combined two important East Texas families, one being of Jewish descent (Clarance Badt) and the other of the Methodist persuasion (May Irvin Badt). While the union was initially frowned upon, the families grew close and Barbara regularly passed summers in the piney woods with a plethora of relatives. As an only child born in the depression, she learned to be outgoing and practical. She met and married Tommy Christian at SMU (Dr. Thomas Allen Christian, DDS), and was drafted into Tommy’s wide (and slightly wild!) circle of friends in San Antonio. After Tommy’s death, Barbara enjoyed an unexpectedly lovely “third act,” traveling the backroads and jet streams of the world with Spence Collins. They passed many summers in Mexico with yet a new set of friends, eating cabrito and sipping anejo. She loved reading and traveling, and few places in the world were missed in her sojourns.

Barbara had two children of whom she was fiercely proud. Brent Thomas Christian died too young at age 40. Cynthia Christian Shea survives her beloved mother, who was a tireless advocate for her daughter’s career. Cynthia and her husband Patrick (Andrew Patrick Shea, Jr.) gave Barbara three grandchildren and one great-grandchild, all of whom she worshipped: George Christian Shea, wife Laura Jane Shea, and son Andrew Wolcott Shea (Dubai); Austin Nevill Shea & dogs Charles and Rose (Bozeman); and Anne Link Shea & dog Buddy (Washington DC). The children had many, many wonderful times with their “Mimi” both at home and on trips across the world, where Barbara was eager to participate in the fun including visiting Machu Pichu, tracking elephants in Tanzania, and riding camels in Morocco; she was a real trooper!

The family will hold a private celebration of her life on July 8. In lieu of flowers, Barbara would be so pleased if she was remembered by a contribution to an animal welfare association of your choice. She took in many a stray dog, and more than a few stray people. It was a good life.