Barbara A. McElfresh

Mrs. Barbara A. McElfresh , age 76, died peacefully after succumbing to a brief illness surrounded by her daughter, son-n-law, granddaughters, and dear friends on November 8, 2023.
Barbara was born on March 10, 1947, in Covington, Kentucky to the late Raymond Abbott and Cathleen Abbott. Barbara grew up attending Calvary Baptist Church in Covington, Kentucky and accepted the Lord as a young child. She was a gifted musician playing both the piano and organ for church and had a beautiful soprano voice which she used to sing in the choir and music groups.
She attended Tennessee Temple University where she met her true love, Thomas McElfresh. They were married on June 21, 1969, by the late Reverend Warren Wiersbe.
Barbara was a devoted wife, mother and mimaw. She taught elementary school in a Christian school and then worked at Food Lion as a Deli-Bakery supervisor. After retiring, she returned to teaching and helped to fund a Christian School in Thomson, Georgia where she and Tom spent the next ten years; she also served as Sunday School teacher to the ladies class. In 2023, she joined Gantt Street Baptist Church where her family attends. She had such an excitement about being a part of this wonderful church and was blessed by the preaching and enjoyed the Ladies Sunday School class.
She was married for over 53 years to her dear Tom until he passed into the Lord’s arms in March of this year. Noted in her Bible is Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of broken heart; and saveth such as be of contrite spirit” she marked the date of Tom’s death. Throughout her Bible, it was clear that she longed for heaven to see her faith become sight in seeing the Heavenly Father and reuniting with her husband and other saints of God.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Thomas McElfresh. She is survived by her daughter, Nancy Knight (Ricky) and granddaughters Jennifer and Amber. She is also survived by her sisters, Dell McClintock (Don), Naomi Vallandingham (Harold), brother Conrad Abbott (Mary) and numerous nieces and nephews.
Although those who yet remain are saddened by her passing, we rejoice in knowing her body has been made whole and she is in the presence of the Lord, family and friends who have gone before her.
Her favorite verse was Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

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