Barbara Schwartz

Mrs. Schwartz was born on July 6, 1925 in New York City, the only child of Lea and Nathan (Nuck) Sachs. Nuck died when Barbara was very young and she was fortunate to grow up with a loving stepfather, Hal Horne. After graduating from The Dalton School in New York City, she shocked her family by heading South to graduate from Duke University in Durham, NC. She loved Duke to her dying day. 

She married David Margulies and had one child from that union. After her divorce, she reconnected with her old boyfriend, Joe Schwartz, who had graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She soon found herself married and living in Wilmington, NC. She and Joe had a son and a daughter together. 

Barbara threw herself into life in Wilmington, raising three children (while learning how to drive). She was active in their schools, the Democratic Party, her local synagogue and many other organizations. Her finest moment in politics was going to the 1980 Democratic National Convention as a Ted Kennedy delegate. Soon afterwards, she became involved with Cape Fear Tech (now Community College), where she was Chair of the Board and Chair of the Foundation multiple times. The gym there is named the Barbara and Joe Schwartz Gym.

She was always active in the local United Jewish Appeal, chairing its campaign many times and making sure she instilled in her children the core value her mother had instilled in her, the importance of always giving to others. 

Barbara’s enjoyment of life, her varied interests and her love of family kept her fulfilled. She and Joe spent many hours watching Duke/UNC games, each vocally cheering on their school. When Joe passed away in 1992, she ran his business, L Schwartz Furniture Company. After retirement, she moved to Raleigh to be close to her daughter, Marcia, and her young grandchildren. She was active at Sha’arei Israel Synagogue there, which became like another family to her.

Barbara was known for her wonderful sense of humor and her ability to go anywhere with anyone at any time. This led to many wonderful family vacations, as well as fun trips to Target or Walgreens — she had fun wherever you took her. She especially loved dinners with Marcia and her family every Friday night and Sunday night “Grandma dinners,” which also included Marcia’s mother-in-law, Lillian Davis.

She is survived by her three children, all UNC graduates (as are two of their spouses, two grandchildren and the spouse of one grandchild), Nancy Margulies Brenner (Frank) of Greensboro, Louis Schwartz (Stacy) of Baltimore, MD, and Marcia Schwartz Davis (Mark) of Raleigh; her nine grandchildren, Matthew Brenner (Jonelle), Molly Brenner Harbaugh (Mark), Joseph Schwartz (Megan), Joshua Schwartz, Andrew Schwartz, Allison Schwartz, Jack Davis, Ted Davis, Lea Davis; and one great grandchild, Annie Harbaugh.

The family would like to thank Barbara’s wonderful caregivers, Dorcas Kengere, Roseline Mararo, and Leonidah Momanyi, who have become a part of the family. Burial will be at B'nai Israel Cemetery, Wilmington on Tuesday, July 13 at 11:00 AM. Donations can be made to Mazon: A Jewish Response To Hunger at Mazon.org or at 10850 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90024. The family will receive friends following the Graveside Service at the home of Brenda Mitwol, 1943 Brookhaven Road, Wilmington, NC 28403.