Barbara Barnes Terry

Barbara Barnes Terry died quietly at home on Thursday, July 28, 2022, in West Camden, Fearrington Village, age 82, after several years illness.

Barbara was born in 1940, in Poughkeepsie, NY, the daughter of Robert Barnes and Dorothy Guilder. She lived there until age 7. Her parents’ divorce made for a difficult childhood, a few years in California, and then back to Poughkeepsie for High School. 

After High school she went back to California to care for her father who was recovering from cancer surgery.  That inspired her to become a nurse. 

With her father unable to work, Barbara needed funds for college and nursing school.  She accepted a US Army Nurse Corps program which would pay for her college. In return she had to commit to 3 years of service in the Army Nurse Corps. 

Barbara, now Lieutenant Barnes, arrived at her first assignment, a hospital on Governor’s Island, in New York City.  There she met her future soulmate, James Terry, a young Lieutenant, the hospital Laboratory Officer.

After New York, Barbara spent two years in France and Germany.  Meanwhile, Jim went to Japan for 2 years. 

Upon discharge from the army, Barbara, looked for a job in Atlanta, Ga, where Jim was in graduate school.  They were married April 19, 1968, and moved to Miami, Florida where Jim had been employed as a Microbiologist.  Barbara was hired as a staff nurse but was soon asked to start a new program for Infection Control, something relatively new for hospitals.  She trained at CDC in Atlanta and was very active in Infection Control professional groups nationally.  She continued in that role for the next 30 years, until retirement in 2000.

After retirement in Fearrington Village, NC Barbara continued her active participation in many projects and leadership roles, President of Fearrington Cares, President of the West Triangle United Nations Association, co-editor of the Flavors of Fearrington cookbook, and much more. 

It is now 54 years since 1968.  Wonderful years of travel, books, friends, and shared cooking pleasures.  

Barbara is survived by her husband, James Terry of Fearrington Village, her cousin, Hazel Teese, of Pinehurst, NC, and the members of her meditation group. 

Condolences may be made at www.donaldsonfunerals.com

Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Terry family