Barbara Lee Zimmerman Litwack

Barbara was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, to Dr. Martin and Charlotte Litwack in 1948. She was the kind and loving sister to Debbie Litwack. All members of her immediate family predeceased her and that contributed to much grief and sorrow in Barbara's life. Barbara is survived by extended family throughout the states.

After graduating from Needham B. Broughton High School in 1966, Barbara went on to UNC Greensboro where she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Arts, Art Education. From 1971-1974, Barbara shared her love of art and looking at the world from an artist’s perspective to elementary school children in the Durham Creative Arts Program and Wake County Public Schools.

She was an accomplished artist who ventured into all mediums of art from drawing and painting to weaving and wood cutting; to ceramics and pottery throwing, to creative writing and poetry.

Barbara, however, did not allow her creative talents to be confined to the physical mediums of art - she used her passion for making the world more beautiful by working tirelessly for the establishment of the Raleigh Arts Commission in 1977 and as an assistant in the early days of Raleigh’s Artsplosure Festival. She sought the company of visionaries and formed a lasting friendship with nuclear scientist and later NC State University Professor Lloyd Zumwalt. She met many kindred spirits while working on the political campaigns of Governor

Jim Hunt in 1977 and the presidential bid of Walter Mondale & Geraldine Ferraro in 1984. She volunteered for Amnesty International, the Mary Duke Biddle Gallery for the Blind, Meals on Wheels, NC Museum of Art, and as a pediatric playroom assistant at Duke Hospital.

Barbara was a gentle and sensitive soul who honored all life forms, but most especially cats of whom many had the good fortune to be her pets over the years. Barbara’s quirky, eccentric, gentle and kind self will be missed by all who really got the chance to know her.

A small graveside funeral was held on August 17, 2024, at Raleigh Hebrew Cemetery in Raleigh. A warm and special thank you to Rabbi Jenny, Rabbi Eric and Rabbi Michael and the entire Beth Meyer Synagogue family for their care and support to Barbara and her family over the years.

Memorial Contributions can be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) https://donate.nami.org/give/603392/%23!/donation/checkout?utm_source=globalNav&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=DonationTracking&c_src=24HAB1#!/donation/checkout