Barbara Jean ‘Barb’ Lofton

Published 8:36 pm Saturday, July 25, 2015

Funeral services for Barbara Jean “Barb” Lofton are 11 a.m. Monday, July 27, 2015, at Riverwood Family Funeral Home with burial at Rosehill Cemetery.  Brother Ryan Thurman will officiate.

Visitation is from 5 until 8 p.m. Sunday, July 26, 2015, also at Riverwood. Riverwood Family Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Lofton, 61, died Friday, July 24, 2015, at the University Medical of Mississippi Center in Jackson after a brief illness.

Edward Barger “Pot” and Ida Mae Tarver Lofton were blessed with the birth of Barbara Jean on Oct. 5, 1953, in Brookhaven.

“Generosity is not giving me that which I need more than you do, but it is giving me that which you need more than I do.” — Khalil Gibran

Barbara was a member of the 1970 graduating class of Brookhaven High School.  She then went on to graduate from the medical laboratory technology program at Copiah-Lincoln Community College.  Residing in McComb for the next 40 years, Barbara began her career working for Drs. Aycock and Morgan.  She then went on to work in the lab at the Medical Arts Building becoming the building manager.  In 1991, she left there to work at Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center, retiring a couple of years ago.  She also has been a vital part of Pike’s Peak Solutions in McComb for many years.

One of Barbara’s favorite pastimes was not only reading Stephen King’s creepy, suspenseful novels, but also the Enterprise-Journal, the Daily Leader and the Clarion-Ledger.  She also loved music, listening to “golden oldies”, and traveling.

Barbara was a member of Central Baptist Church in Brookhaven.  It was there that her nurturing spirit developed. Although not blessed with children of her own, Barbara did have three children that filled her heart, Lee, Theresa and Michael.  When something touched their lives, it also touched hers.

Barbara’s generous, loving spirit reached beyond “her kids” and family. Anyone that knew her or had the pleasure of spending time with her was also a recipient. Barbara had the ability and keen foresight to see a need before others and act to help. She also had a great memory for birthdays and special occasions. She would surprise one with that personal, well-thought-about gift or written word. Much thought and consideration went into all that she did.

She was preceded in death by her father, Pot Lofton; and her niece, Theresa Kennedy.

Survivors are her mother, Ida Mae Lofton; her sister, Ann Martin; her nephews, Lee Barry and wife, Sherry, and Michael Barry; great-nephews and nieces, Cameron Barry, Allyson Barry, Ryan Kennedy and Christopher Kennedy; and one great-great-nephew, John Preston.

Generous, loving and fun, that was Barb Lofton.