Barbara Woodward Haley

May 26, 2015

Barbara Woodward Haley of Atmore went to her eternal home on May 26, 2015, after a lengthy illness. Barbara was born February 11, 1926, to Grover W. and Leah C. Woodward in Chapman, AL. She spent most of her youth in Greenville and Bay Minette, AL where her father was the L&N Station Master. Barbara graduated in 1945 from Baldwin County High School where she was a cheerleader and soprano in the Glee Club. During World War ll, Barbara was employed as a chauffeur for the military officers traveling to the Grand Hotel in Point Clear for R&R. After the war ended, she worked for the State Employment Service finding work and obtaining benefits for veterans.

In 1949, at a dance at the Atmore Country Club, she met the love of her life, Ben Haley, a Marine who had recently returned to the area. A whirlwind romance followed and in December of 1950, the two renowned dancers became dance partners for life. They made their home in Atmore, where they both became involved with their church, community, and friends.

When God blessed the couple with two daughters, Barbara retired from professional life and devoted herself full-time to her family. Being a mother was the job in which Barbara truly excelled and loved the most. She was a room mother every year that each of her daughters attended Rachel Patterson School. She was a Girl Scout leader, Girl’s Auxiliary leader, Vacation Bible School and Sunday School teacher, and chaperone for countless dances, parties, and class trips. She and Ben took a multitude of children to the beach each summer where they taught them to water ski and drive a jeep on the beach. Barbara was president of the PTA, president of the Atmore Study Club, a Pink Lady at the Atmore Community Hospital, and hostess for numerous parties and backyard bar-b-ques. She was a devoted daughter and daughter-in-law, giving compassionate care to her parents and mother-in-law until their deaths. In addition to her church and community work and commitment to family and friends, Barbara will be remembered for starting the Atmore Nursing Center Beauty Salon Ministry. She continued to volunteer and minister to the elderly there for over 40 years.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Ben L. Haley of Atmore; her parents, G.W. Woodward and Leah C. Woodward; and her sisters, Lavida Woodward and Marie Woodward Vines, all of Bay Minette.

She is survived by her daughters, Rhonda Haley (Ike) Scott of Opelika and Kathleen Haley (AI) Thompson of Point Clear; her granddaughters, Haley Caroline Scott of Auburn and Amory Ellen Scott of Atlanta, GA; her nieces, Tonya Vines Harang of Spanish Fort and Katrina Vines Duck of Bay Minette; her beloved Boston Terrier, Chloe; and a host of extended family and friends.

The visitation for Barbara will be at noon on Thursday, May 28,2015, followed by the memorial service at 2 p.m. in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Atmore.

Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore.

Memorial gifts in Barbara’s memory can be made to the Atmore Nursing Center Beauty Salon Ministry, the First Baptist Church of Atmore, or the Atmore Animal Shelter.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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Written by Jane · Filed Under Obituaries