Theda Mae Barber

Theda Mae Barber, of Elyria, got aboard the old ship of Zion and went to be with the Lord on Monday, September 16th, 2024. She was born in Covington, Virginia on December 21, 1940, to Lester and Fluncey Stewart.

Theda accepted Christ at a young age. She graduated from Watson High School. In 1958, she married James Henry Barber, Jr. which resulted in two children, Candace and William. She worked in several administrative positions until she landed at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, where she retired after 30 years of service.

Theda was a former member of Elyria Baptist Church and Clinton Avenue Church of Christ. She was a faithful servant of Bethany Baptist Church, where she served in many capacities including the church clerk, missions, and as an usher. She graduated from the McCreary Center for African American Religious Studies in Cleveland.

Theda was a voracious reader. Her reading history would include thousands of books. She enjoyed learning and doing various hobbies including baking, crocheting, and scrapbooking. Her favorite joy was being the doting grandmother of Tiffany and William C. and being the great-grandmother to Lavender. She will always be remembered for her kindness, sharp wit, and generosity. We could not ask for a better mother, grandmother, sister, auntie and friend.

She leaves to cherish her memories her son William L. Barber of Elyria; her brothers Lester J. Stewart, Jr. of Warrensville Hts., OH, and Kennedy Suffard of Atlanta, GA; her sister Gwendolyn Flood of Cleveland, OH; granddaughter Tiffaney N. Davis and grandson William C. Barber of Elyria; great-granddaughter Lavender Willow-Anastasia Barber of Bedford, OH; sister in-law Patricia L. McGhee of Streetsboro, OH; nieces Leslie R. Pendleton (Phelan) of Cleveland Hts., OH, Brandy C. Stewart of Cleveland, OH, Shirley Thompson-Lewis of Douglasville, GA, Valerie Thompson of Olmsted Twp, OH, and a host of relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather Horace M. Flood; her husband James H. Barber, Jr.; her daughter Candace V. Barber-Cooke; and brothers Alfred B. Reynolds and Anthony Suffard.

We will miss her every day and her memory will live long in the hearts of those who loved and knew her.

A visitation will be held Friday, September 27, 2024, from 10AM until the time of service at 11AM at Bethany Baptist Church, 334 17th St, Elyria, OH 44035. Interment will be at Brookdale Cemetery, Elyria.