Mary Kelly Barber Obituary

Mary Lucille Kelly Barber, daughter of Lawrence Anthony Kelly and Emma Lucille Styles, was born May 11, 1931, and died April 16, 2025, in Charleston, South Carolina. The oldest of six children, she spent much of her youth caring for her siblings, working with her grandmother, Lucille Styles, at the Charleston Florist, as well as taking voice lessons from an outstanding voice teacher, Vernon Weston. She met and married the love of her life, Robert Archibald Barber, Sr., in 1947. They began their wonderful life and family on Folly Beach and operated Bob's Lunch, a local restaurant, while Bob earned his business degree from The Citadel. Cile was an active member of Folly Beach United Methodist church, where she sang in the choir and taught Sunday School.
In 1959, she moved to Columbia, South Carolina with Bob and her children, and continued the busy, difficult, but rewarding activity of raising her family. Cile was a longtime member of Virginia Wingard United Methodist Church, active in the choir, a Circle leader, a two term president of Virginia Wingard Women's Group, and even coached a girls' church league basketball team. Family was the true and consistent cornerstone of Cile's life. She had six children and a menagerie of animals, and her house was the "hang out" place for her children's friends, many of whom considered her a second mother. And she welcomed all with open arms, a beautiful laugh, and delicious biscuits. Community involvement was important to her as well, from being an involved wife in Bob's career at C&S Bank, a supporter of her children's school events and games, a fundraiser for the Riverbanks Zoo, to weekly trips to volunteer at the Lowman Home. She blessed many with her gifts of hard work, compassion, and a loving heart. After her children went to college, she worked part time at a dear friend's dance school, and opened her own business, Cile's Antiques and Collectibles.
Her love of antiques extended to Victorian architecture, which led her and Bob to 1526 Boundary Street in Newberry, South Carolina, where they moved in 1985, and became, "the new, young couple in town!" Cile said while she lived in Columbia she was usually referred to as, "Bob Barber's wife or my kids' mom, and when we moved to Newberry, Bob became known as Cile Barber's husband. And he was fine with that!"
Her years in Newberry continued to be filled with faith, family, friends, and community. As a member of Central United Methodist Church, she blessed many with her beautiful voice as a member of the choir, and also served on the church administrative board. Cile also belonged to several book clubs, card groups, and supper clubs, and made many wonderful friends. Her lifelong love of music continued and led her to become a founding board member of the Newberry Opera House, serving on the board for over twenty years, helping raise funds to restore the Opera House, ensuring its success, and hosting its annual oyster roast for twenty years. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have many beloved memories of Christmas Eves spent in the house with NINE Christmas trees, thirty-eight-ish people, tons of good food and laughs, five golden rings, and the younger children waiting to race down the steps and see what Santa brought on Christmas morning.
Cile had an infectious laugh, beautiful blue eyes, and a witty sense of humor. She loved to talk (Bob said she should be buried in a telephone booth) and was a true card shark. She was the matriarch, and even though she had six kids of her own, she was always there when someone needed her.
She said she lived almost ninety-four years because she had a wonderful husband who was the love of her life, and for sixty-seven years told her every day that he loved her, she was beautiful, and he made her laugh. The love for her shared by family and friends was evident at her "Cileabration", an event last year attended by more than 250 of her closest family members and friends!
She is survived by their children: James R. Epting Jr. of Irmo; Robert A. Barber Jr. (LaNelle) of Charleston; J. Michael Barber (Susan) of Columbia; Karen B. Danielowski (Cas) of Charleston; J. Patrick Barber (Becky) of Folly Beach; daughter-in-law Lynn P. Barber of Charleston; grandchildren: Tonya M. Clamp (Joey); James R. Epting III; Tonia M. McGrew (Jon); S. Hope Barber; R. Matthew Barber (Danielle); Alison V. Barber; J. Michael Barber, Jr.; S. Lucas Barber (Megan); Grace M. Barber; Emily B. Workman (Ryan); Connor C. Danielowski (Katie); Kelly M. Danielowski; Taylor P. Barber; Brandon C. Barber; Bowen C. Barber; great grandchildren: Hunter Clamp; Katie-Ann Clamp; Mary Lesesne McIntosh; S. Frances McIntosh; Madelyn T. Barber; Jackson M. Barber; Charlotte L. Barber; Adelaide L. Tribble; Lee McLawhorn; S. Marsh Barber; Anna S. Barber; Reilly B. Workman; Elijah J. Workman; D. Stiles Gerth, Margot K. Gerth; and John B. Danielowski, and a gracious plenty of nieces, nephews, cousins, and many more "greats", as well as her most beloved "The Sisters": Dorothy K. McKnight; Patricia A. Kelly, Ann K. Smith (Rah Rah), and Barbara D. Britz, and dear niece Kathleen E. Kelly. She was predeceased by her husband Robert A. Barber, Sr.; son W. Stephen Barber; brother Chaplain (Colonel) Lawrence A. Kelly, Jr.; daughter-in-law Irene L. Epting; and granddaughter Erin R. Barber.
Memorial Service will be held at Old St. Andrew's Parish Church, 2604 Ashley River Road, Charleston, South Carolina 29414, on May 21, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. Burial service to follow in the church cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Newberry Opera House, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or the Bob and Cile Endowed Scholarship at Wofford College.