Barbara Mae Mitchell

Barbara Mae Mitchell, Barb, was born on the fourth of August 1948 in Amsterdam, New York. She was born a twin of Raymond and Shirley Brooks. She is survived by her loving husband, Lisle, her twin brother Raymond, her daughter Meggen, her Son-in-Law, Jordy, and her Grandson, Peyton. She is also survived by her Step-Son, Shaw Mitchell, Step-Daughter Laura Mickelson, and four Step-Grandchildren: Kathleen Stewart, Sean Stewart, Lauren Mitchell, and Taylor Mitchell.

Barbara attended Shaker High School in Latham, New York where she achieved academic success and starred playing basketball, volleyball, softball, and field hockey.

Barbara attended Russell Sage College, the University of South Carolina, Midlands Technical College, and the Lutheran Southern Seminary. She received a Bachelor degree In Physical Education, a Master’s degree in Health Education from the University of South Carolina, and a certificate in drafting from Midlands Technical College.

She and her first husband, Robert Madama, came to South Carolina while serving in the Volunteers in Service to America, VISTA. She also worked for a Non-Profit Organization in poverty-stricken areas in Columbia, the Wilbur Smith organization in airport design, the Department of Social Services in child safety, Richland School District One as a middle school teacher teaching adaptive PE and health education, was an Instructor in health education at Winthrop University, and a librarian’s assistant at Spring Valley High School.

Her interest in sports extended beyond high school as she was an excellent golfer, a good bowler, a softball player, and a bicycle rider.

Barbara had a wide variety of interests including being a pilot. She trained horses and dogs, cooked for family and friends, carved stone, made and taught pottery making, painted, and enjoyed simple and complicated puzzles, photography, dancing, conversing, the computer, and Facebook.

Barbara was an excellent wife and companion. She was a great mother, and a wonderful grandmother. She loved all her step-children and step-grandchildren.

Barbara had a presence and aura that attracted people to her. She never met an enemy. People loved to be around her and allowed her to be the center of attention, as her multitude of interests enabled her to talk with almost anyone and on nearly any topic.

She was a very spiritual person. She was raised a Catholic but became a Protestant. She attended Lutheran, Episcopal, and Baptist churches. She attended the Lutheran Southern Seminary and received a Masters' degree in Divinity. She never became a pastor but served various churches in leadership roles. She attended religious conferences in England and France. She was a leader in the Recovery Ministry at Midtown Downtown Fellowship. She studied Native American spirituality.

A celebration of life will be held Sunday, January 29, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home, Northeast Chapel, 4219 Hard Scrabble Rd, Columbia, South Carolina 29223. A gathering of family and friends will be at 3:00 p.m. following the service at the funeral home. A place of rest will be held in Fort Jackson National Cemetery, 4170 Percival Rd, Columbia, South Carolina 29229.