Barbara B. Laidlaw

Barbara Beverly Laidlaw, 71, of Sarasota, Florida, passed away August 7, 2019. She was born Barbara Beverly Clarke on May 21, 1948 in Brown’s Town, St. Ann, Jamaica to parents Edith and Joscelyn Clarke.

Barbara practiced nursing through five decades, working in the UK, Jamaica, Connecticut and Florida. She was a staff nurse at Yale Psychiatric Institute for four years. She became a certified Scottish Midwife in 1974. After she moved to Sarasota, she worked as a Charge Nurse in Psychiatry at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Barbara focused on public health in Florida at the Sarasota County Health Department. She started there in 1979 as a Community Health Nurse for Migrant Health Services. She rose up the ranks and retired as Director of Operations and Executive Community Health Nursing Director in 2012.

She was an active member of her local church, serving the homeless after retirement. Through the ministry group Feeding for Christ, she led a group of volunteers to feed the homeless of Sarasota. She was also an avid gardener, enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, connecting with her church community, and singing along to Christian music.

Barbara graduated in 1966 from York Castle High School, Jamaica; got her Certification in Nursing (Registered Nurse), Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital, London UK in 1970; received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Saint Leo University in 1986; and her Master of Public Health in Health Policy and International Health, University of South Florida in 1992.

She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Renford, their children Stacey, Jason, Kevin, and Jacqueline, son-in-law Leyton, sister Johanna, brothers Raymond and Leslie, brothers-in-law Larkland and Alfred, sisters-in-law Mildred and Vernice, many cousins, nieces and nephews, chosen family, and great friends.

In pursuit of comfort, traditional, black, funeral attire is not expected. In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial donations be made to Feeding for Christ, care of Restoration Fellowship Church, 5614 Richardson Rd, Sarasota, FL 34232