Barbara Perez

Barbara is survived by her children, Michael Perez & wife Marcia of Boca Raton, FL; Glenn Perez & wife Karen of Mims, FL; and Melanie Fortnash & husband Jim (Doc) of West Palm Beach, FL. 10 grandchildren: April, Stephanie, Jacqueline, Matthew, Gabrielle, Keith, Megan, Jennifer, Angelina, and Melissa; and 6 great grandchildren: Nathaniel, Cassandra, Jayla, Sienna, Jack, and Alessia. She is preceded in death by her devoted husband George, Dorothy Stevenson and Raymond Wilson, and siblings Kenneth and Richard Wilson.

Barbara was born on August 21, 1935 in Indianapolis, Indiana to Dorothy and Raymond Wilson. She moved to Miami when she was 16, where she met George. She graduated from Miami Edison High School in June of 1953 and three days later married the love of her life, George. They enjoyed 65 wonderful years together and were blessed with 3 children: Michael, Glenn, and Melanie. Her children, grandkids, and great grands were forever her greatest joy and the highlight of her life. George and Barbara raised their kids by Christian principles which were the foundation of their lives. In addition, they welcomed 10 other young people into their home and parented them as their own.

Barbara earned her BS degree in journalism while raising three children and became a feature story writer for the Miami Herald. She also worked as an administrative secretary to the principal in the Dade County Public School System. She loved swimming and the beach, so she trained to become a certified lifeguard, teaching children to swim at Victory Park Pool in North Miami Beach. Barbara was also skilled in floral design. She was in her element as an epic cook, baker, seamstress, and homemaker. Her love for God’s Word drove her to attend the Orlando campus of Asbury Theological Seminary so she could study and apply Biblical truths in a more in-depth way.

Barbara gave her life to Christ at a Billy Graham Crusade in Miami and devoted herself to being a living testimony of God’s love, grace, and forgiveness. More than anything else, Barbara LOVED sharing the life-changing message of salvation with teenagers and college age youth. She wanted everyone to know the joy of an intimate, meaningful personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This was evident through her shining spirit of hospitality and her “door always open” personality. Nothing filled her tank more than spending time with these precious young people. She made everyone feel welcome at any time, day or night, and gave value to each person. She stretched meals to feed whoever happened to be at the house at dinner time. She gave haircuts, did mountains of laundry, chauffeured folks to where they needed to be, or stayed up all night helping someone finish a research paper in the nick of time. She had a witty and playful sense of humor and loved a good prank…you never knew where the “mad shaver” would strike next! When her aging body no longer enabled her to keep up with the schedules and demands of youth work (much to her chagrin), Barbara shifted her energies to a thriving and devoted prayer life. She was a prayer warrior who not only faithfully and boldly interceded for everyone she knew and loved, but also for complete strangers whose struggles and needs became known to her. She led by serving, loved wholeheartedly, and was a blessing to everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. Although her spunk and endearing love will be profoundly missed, she is in the place where she most longed to be: Paradise with her beloved Jesus and the cherished loved ones who have gone on before her.

A celebration of her beautiful life will be held on November 11, 2023 at 11:00 a.m., with fellowship beginning at 10:00 a.m., at Quattlebaum Funeral and Event Center, 5411 Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33411. A reception meal will follow. Rev. Gene Maddox and Rev. Dan Plourde will officiate the ceremony. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of Barbara to Deaf Missions International at dminetwork.org.