WENDELL – Wanda Leigh Reid Barker, 59, passed away on Monday, July 5th, 2021. She was born in Raleigh County, West Virginia, to the late Charles Walter Reid II & Mildred Jean Fox. She worked as a Director in Technology Education. She devoted her life to her family. She loved her grandchildren very much. She enjoyed visits to the beach and painting. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her brother, Charles W. Reid III, sister, Arlene Gail Reid Herndon.
She is survived by her beloved husband of over 38 years, Ralph Eugene Barker, her son, Travis Barker (Lauran) of Charlotte, daughter, Ashley Bryant-Harvey (Steven) of Wendell, brother, James Reid (Kathy) of Fort Walton Beach, FL, sisters, Judy Mcpeake (Paul) of Abingdon, VA, Kathleen Broyles (Dan) of Henderson, NV, Donna Steele (Larry) of Beckley WV, Anita Sherman of Wendell, grandchildren, Lilly Grace Bryant, and Ruth Helena Harvey.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Little Pink Houses of Hope https://www.littlepink.org/donors/give-online/.
Visitation 9:30-11am, Saturday, Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, 211 W. Third St, Wendell. Memorial Service will follow at 11 am at the funeral home. Inurnment will take place 10:30 am, Saturday, July 17th at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, 5251 Robert C Byrd Dr, Beckley, WV. Arrangements are with Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory. www.stricklandfuneral.com.
29 Comments
I will miss working with Wanda. Her love for education and work ethic in leading the SREB Technology Cooperative assisted many throughout the region. Her dedication will always be remembered. Prayers for her family. (A fellow-Raleigh Countian) Brenda Williams
You were loved and will be missed by so many. God bless.
Wanda was such a beautiful and sweet person so happy she was part of our family for sure she will be missed but never forgotten. R.I.P WANDA HEAVEN GAIN ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL ANGEL
I am so sorry for the loss of your beautiful mother.
So sorry Travis, Debbie lost her Mom in 2017 and I lost mine in 2019. We know you will miss her in some small way everyday. You will always have her in your memory.
So terribly sorry for your loss Travis. Thinking of you and your family so much during this time.
I am sorry for your loss and send my condolences. Ashley, I wish you and your family peace during this time.
Wanda has been a great colleague in the educational technology circles for years. I’ve really come to love getting to know her kind heart, willingness to share, and fantastic sense of humor. On behalf of WCET, NCOER, and all of us in the higher education edtech world…Wanda will be missed and we thank her for all that she gave to us.
I was so sorry to hear of Wanda’s passing. She has been a long time colleague and friend. We have worked together on many projects and shared many wonderful group dinners at conferences and through SREB. I will miss her always cheerful smile, sense of humor and willingness to jump right in to help out. She was wonderfully creative and a great source of unity for many of us spread over the southeast. She will be greatly missed.
Our sincere condolences to Wanda’s family.. She was truly a special woman. She will be greatly missed.
Our sincere condolences to Wanda’s family.. She was truly a special woman. She will be greatly missed. My wife was a childhood friend from grade school through high school. We recently was able to spend time with her and her husband at recent high school reunion. Feel very fortunate to have had this last opportunity to share time with her and relive wonderful memories. God Bless her family.
Wanda was an advocate for distance learning for the NC Community College System. She was a strong leader and everyone who knew her called her colleague and friend. She will be greatly missed, but her impact will continue to be felt.
Travis, May God especially walk with you at this time. His love was what got me through when my Dad passed away. May His peace be with you and yours.
Wanda was both a colleague and a friend. She will be missed.
Wanda will be genuinely missed. Although I’ve only had the opportunity to work with her for a little over a year, I grew to care for her. She was always so welcoming and ready to listen to any problem you may have. I am sending my thoughts and prayers to her family and friends.
Wanda was an excellent leader and facilitator. I knew her through her work with SREB SARA–in that work she shepherded collegial and conflicting views while always keeping her focus on what would best support the student and the organization. She will be missed–my sympathies to her family, friends, and co-workers.
Wanda was a wonderful person–kind, upbeat, and always a pleasure to be around. We will miss you, Wanda. Be at peace.
Wanda was one of the kindest people I have ever met and at the same time a strong and caring leader. I will miss our work together on the SREB RSC and the warmth and friendship Wanda always showed me.
I too met Wanda through her work at SREB. Wanda was kind, helpful and always so warm and welcoming. She will be greatly missed.
From her colleagues at the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, we send our deepest condolences. Wanda was simply a joy to work with. She was able to combine outstanding personability with immense professionalism in a way that so few others have. We are very proud and thankful to have had the privilege of regular interactions with her.
Wanda will be missed! She was very kind and patient with all my questions in her work at SREB. I admired her ability to diffuse contentious situations; it showed her wisdom and kindness. Prayers go out to her family and friends.
Wanda’s smile and energy will be missed among colleagues not only in our SREB Atlanta office but among all who worked with her across the United States. She had long been a champion of students of all ages and learning at all stages. We will remember her kind and gentle spirit as we continue to do the work for students across the south.
We send out most heartfelt condolences to Wanda’s family during this difficult time.
Tiffany Harrison, Elisa Jaden, and Maretta Whibbey – her office team
Ralph and family please accept our sincere thoughts and prayers!
My deepest condolences in Wanda’s passing. Wanda was a warm, beautiful, gentle spirit whose smile lit up the room. She was full of energy and enthusiasm for education and had a passion for students, always seeking to find ways we can better serve them. SREB conferences will not be the same without her wit, sense of humor, and her patience! Rest well, Wanda. You’ve run the race and finished the course, good and faithful servant. May God bless her family, friends, and colleagues.
I have known Wanda for over 40 years and she has always been a woman after God’s own heart. It breaks my heart that we no longer have her here with us but I am certain of one thing, she is dancing with her Lord and is more alive today than she has ever been. I am praying for the Barker family.
My condolences to Wanda’s friends and family on behalf of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission Division of Postsecondary State Authorization. Wanda and I met through our work with the S-SARA RSC. She provided thoughtful effective leadership. I will miss visiting with her in the future.
I will truly miss working with Wanda. She was very dedicated to her work and was so pleasant to work with. Sending peace to the family.
My deepest condolences to Wanda Barker’s family. Our prayers are extended to all of you. Kind Regards, Trish Gordon McCown, Maryland Higher Education Commission
My deepest condolences to Wanda’s family. She was a warm and gracious person who was always so helpful to me through my work with SREB. I always looked forward to talking with her and she will be greatly missed. My prayers and thoughts are with her family and friends at this time.
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