Sylvia Diane Barlow Elkins

January 5, 2021

Doll entered this world on March 17, 1949. Born to Walter and Bessie Barlow in Nokomis, Florida, she was number 15 of 19 children. As a child, she attended Davis School in Davisville, FL and Earnest Ward in Walnut Hill, FL. Being one who was called by her Daddy as his “China Doll” because of her beauty, the name stuck and still today is lovingly known as Doll.

She went on to marry Terry Elkins and birthed two daughters Erica (Donald) Little of Atmore, AL and Kimberly (Rodney) Johnson of Perdido, AL. The children really didn’t stop there as every one of their friends adopted her as their mother also calling her “Mom”. She has a host of nieces and nephews (of course she did, with 18 siblings!) and her close friend Peggy Moore of New Castle, KY had eight children who adopted her as their aunt also. She went by the name of Diane, who in a child language sounded like Di-nan. From that came the nickname Nanny. The name stuck when the grandchildren started to come along.

Grandchildren : Joshua Husband of Atmore, AL; Meredith (Mark) Morrow of Perdido, AL; Joseph (Whitney) Husband of Atmore, AL; Paul Lawson Jr of Foley, AL; and Matthew Lawson of LaGrange, KY. With the second marriage of Erica, she was able to gain another grandchild Kerven (Casey) Little of Pensacola, FL. Her grandchildren’s friends, like her children’s friends, adopted her as their Nanny also. So there are many “adopted” grandchildren not mentioned here.

Great grandchildren in birth order include Keegan Little of Pensacola, FL; Naomie Lawson of McDavid, FL; Mark Jr, Mia, and Marie Morrow of Perdido, AL; and Zayne Lawson of Foley, AL.

After living in KY for over 30 years, she retired and moved back to her hometown of Atmore, AL where she was a member of Nokomis Baptist Church. Her passions aside from spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren involved gardening. She often tended to her vegetable garden and multiple fruit trees and flower beds. In the yard was where she felt at peace. Now, as of New Year’s Eve, her peace is found in the arms of her Lord and Savior.

She is preceded in death by her parents and 11 siblings.

She is survived by her husband of 56 years, two daughters, six grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and seven siblings: Walter “Tobe” (Bobbie) Barlow Jr of Shepherd, TX; Margaret Ann (Larson) Bryars of Perdido, AL; Judy Rathsack of Atmore, AL; Donald Barlow of Nokomis, FL; Frank “Dunky” (Shirley) Barlow of Nokomis, AL; Debbie Barlow of Nokomis, FL; Theresa “Reese” Barlow of Atmore, AL; and a special Sister-in-
law Jackie Barlow of New Caney, TX.

Visitation and funeral service will be held at Johnson Quimby Funeral Home.

The funeral will be Wednesday January 6, 2021, at 10 a.m.

Her pastor, James Hill, will be officiating the service.

The burial is to follow the service at Serenity Gardens in Atmore, AL.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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Written by Jane · Filed Under Obituaries