Obituary of Lillian C. Barber

Lillian Ruth Congdon Barber left this world to be with the Lord Jesus on February 26th, 2024. She is survived by her only son, Dr. Jon Larry Barber. She is preceded into eternity by her husband of 59 years, Coach Jerome 'Jerry' Larry Barber, and siblings Charles Alfred Congdon and Elton Clark Congdon, and eldest brother, Frank Sterling Congdon. 

Lillian was born in Haines City, Florida to Frank Roy Congdon and Northa Belle Strickland Congdon on September 9, 1935. The family was successful in citrus farming and cattle ranching. Lillian excelled in agriculture and homemaking skills, and garnered awards and achievements in Haines City high school, and graduated in 1953. She attended FSU, and received degrees in home economics and education in 1957. As an educator, she taught primarily home economics for 38 years, and retired in 1997.

After college, Lillian lived and taught home economics in Jacksonville for a few years, then moved back to Polk County to teach at Winter Haven high school for another couple of years. Around that time, she was introduced to her lifetime partner, Jerome Larry Barber, and were soon married on June 30, 1963. They shortly after moved to West Palm Beach for about a year, then moved back to Haines City. She then gave birth to Jon Larry Barber on June 29, 1966.

During her tenure as a home economics teacher at both Haines City high school and junior high, and later Ridge Vocational Technical school, she brought up fine students who excelled in the Future Homemakers of America and the Polk County and Florida State Youth Fairs. She influenced some students to become educators as well. Still others became culinary and tailoring professionals. Lillian also furthered her education at the University of South Florida, to achieve a specialist degree in 1986. Later in her education career, she worked as an administrator in the Polk County school programs for single parents and grade school health education. 

When she retired from her successful career, Lillian continued to do other activities that she enjoyed with her family and friends. She enjoyed entertaining, gardening, antiquing, and vacationing to the beaches and the mountains. She custom designed and had built a mountain home in Ellijay, Georgia. She was also an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Haines City.

In her later years, she continued to help others, and enjoy life, but heart and respiratory issues became problematic. Her husband developed cancer and dementia. Lillian was broken hearted by the passing of her husband, the love of her life, and soon succumbed to cardiac arrest on Monday, February 26th, 2024, just after a previous respiratory arrest on February 14th. She was known and remembered as a loving wife, mother, and educator.