Barbara Lebey

Born in 1939 in Newark NJ, the third child of Edith Jean and Gerald Sydell, 1st generation immigrants who passed through Ellis Island, Barbara grew up in a time when career choices for women were limited. She excelled in school skipping 2 grades, ultimately graduating from Montclair State College with a degree in English and Political Science by the age of 20. To earn spending money while in school, she took modeling jobs and attended classes when she could at the Art Students League in New York City in the late 1950’s. Her father was quite old fashioned encouraging his only daughter to marry upon graduation, teach high school English and start a family, all of which she did so she could move out of her family home.

Barbara followed her first husband to Atlanta in the summer of 1966. She yearned for a fulfilling career that would support herself and her two young children Pamela and Daniel, on her own if necessary, so she decided to apply to Emory Law School to enter as one of three women. Barbara graduated in the top 10% of her class, a member of Law Review, Moot Court and winner of 10 Horn Book Awards. She began her legal career at Atlanta Legal Aid, worked as an associate for Arnold, Golden & Gregory, became Vice Chair of the Georgia State Personnel Board and was appointed as an Administrative Law Judge for the State of Georgia serving from 1975 to 1990.

The first year of her judgeship, Barbara met and married the love of her life Christian David LeBey, Jr. They enjoyed a full and happy marriage lasting until his death 36 years later. David LeBey adopted and raised Barbara’s children as his own.

After her retirement from the bench, Barbara turned her painting hobby into a successful career selling her art all over the world. Her paintings captured the loveliness of the South in her florals and gardens and the sparkling sunlight of her homes on the Maine coast and Martha's Vineyard, where she summered for almost 30 years escaping the Atlanta heat.

Many of Barbara’s paintings are displayed in important collections including those of President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter, Princeton University, the Hunter Museum of Art, the Albany Museum, Bank of Tokyo and the Robert P. Coggins Collection of Southern Women Artists.

Later in life, Barbara focused on a third career as a writer culminating in two books published by Random House, Family Estrangements in 2003 and Remarried with Children in 2005. During her nationwide book tour, she was invited to appear on both Good Morning America and the Today Show to discuss her books.

Barbara was a member of the Georgia Chapter of the International Women's Forum, the Authors Guild and Georgia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts.

During Barbara’s final years she enjoyed stock investing and spending quality time with her daughter Pamela and her beloved grandsons Nicholas and David. She was the rock of the family and will be greatly missed.

Barbara Sydell LeBey passed away peacefully in her home on July 13th, 2024, after a grueling battle with cancer. Her daughter Pamela, grandson David and an amazing group of caregivers with Harris Staffing Eldercare Services were with her at every step of the way as was Dr. William S. Jonas, who provided constant care and attention during her long battle.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband Christian David LeBey, Jr. She is survived by her daughter Pamela LeBey Carlock, her grandsons Nicholas Warren Wilson, David LeBey Wilson, her son Daniel Maurice LeBey and two granddaughters Kathryn Thurman LeBey and Isabelle Daniel LeBey.