Barb or ‘Miss Smith’ as I fondly called her much of my early life, was one of a kind. She was my first grade teacher at Southwick, a long time neighbor and on-going  family friend much of my adult life. All in all, I knew Barb for 50+ years. 
My earliest memories always included an animal of some kind…Flower the skunk, BunBun the rabbit, Pippi Longstocking, Bear, Welkie Jo and now Max. I’m sure there were others but these were the pets that made a mark on me. 
Barb (and Ruth) always welcomed the kids in the neighborhood who stopped by on their bikes. As a kid, I often took my friends and cousins down there for a visit (and snack). I have vivid memories of sitting on her couch & petting the dogs while she devoted 100% of her attention to us asking about our families and our summer fun. 
I’m sure I was a complete pest, but she always made me feel welcome and loved. 
Fast forward many years later, that same love and enthusiasm for kids came forth again with my own children. Barb loved all things sports but took a special liking to girls HS softball and often traveled several days a week to Bluffton just to watch my daughters play. She liked to sit along the 3rd base line cheering and ‘coaching’ them too. She was always a fancy dresser and had some sort of bling about her, usually a studded or jeweled ball cap, white pants and new tennis shoes. The team loved it when she came. 

Barb was one of the first neighbors we met when we moved to New Haven 17 years ago . She was very warm and welcoming and we loved her wittiness and her joyful, adventurous spirit. Wasn’t long before we became great friends. She adored our 6-month-old son, Jordan, and was thrilled when we welcomed twin girls into the world 3 years later, Haley and Cassidy. She quickly became a very strong part of our village and assumed a grandmother-like role for all 3 children. She adored them, and they adored her right back. She kept her fridge stocked with all their favorite treats, they played games together, she helped them with their homework, came to their birthday  parties and ballgames, and we always found time to celebrate most holidays together. As children do, they grew into teenagers with a few teenage bumps in the road. Barb was right there with an empathetic, nonjudgmental, listening  ear and warm hug if they needed it; and she always made time for the exhausted, sometimes stressed out parents as well. She took pride in all their accomplishments and loved to praise them while at the same time, teaching them to be humble and kind. She insisted on paying them for chores so they could learn responsibility with money and was thrilled to be contributing to Haley and Cassidy’s “car jar.” Jordan enjoyed running errands with her, helping with the groceries, etc.; and they made a deal that when the time came she shouldn’t be driving anymore, Jordan would drive her around like “Miss Daisy.” I could go on and on about what an amazing person and role model she was in or lives. We were so blessed to have her right beside us all those years. We’ll miss our dear friend  deeply but will hold her close in our hearts and honor her and everything she taught us by living our best lives…starting with Jordan, who’s a senior this year, and Barb was so very proud of him. Warm hugs to her family and other friends.

I worked with Barb at Southwick Elementary. She was a joy  to be around! Her smile would always brighten my day. 
My thoughts and prayers for her family and friends. 🙏

OBITUARY

Barbara Ann Smith

December 21, 1933 – August 27, 2022

Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel

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