Barbara Ballentine Stuckey

Barbara Stuckey
Easley, SC 

Barbara Folger Ballentine Stuckey, age 95, wife of 74 years to James (Jim) Fountain Stuckey, went to Heaven on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. Born on April 21, 1928, she was the daughter of the late James Anderson Ballentine and the late Gladys Folger Higgins Ballentine.

Barbara's intense and life long love of teaching, guiding, instructing, and participating led her into many directions. Following graduation from Coker college, she taught piano for 12 years, accompanied church choirs, and organized and directed the Easley Presbyterian church Bell Ringers. She also spent 7 years teaching Math (with a preference for Algebra) and then felt led to go into Guidance counseling at Easley High School, which she did for 23 years. During this time, she also finished a Master's Degree from Clemson University and then, with a friend, opened a Cross Stitch Shop on the backside of the family's "Ballentine Hardware Store." She loved making beautiful cross stitch art and teaching it to everyone. She also enjoyed a good game of Bridge or Hand and Foot with friends and family. Her connections to students, friends, and everyone was sincere and long lived. She delighted in visiting people and sharing home-grown flowers and homemade Benne Seed Cookies and Banana Bread.

A member of Easley Presbyterian church, she served as organist and director of the Hand Bell Choir. As a summer resident of the Cedar Mountain Community in North Carolina, she was the organist for Faith Memorial Chapel's summer services. In her later years she enjoyed accompanying her many musical grandchildren and the Seniors Choir at Easley First Baptist Church. And, finally, since moving to Easley Presbyterian Home, she regularly provided music for Sunday Vespers.

Barbara or "Mimi" is missed and survived by a large family and special friends headed by her beloved husband, Jim. She was a devoted Mother to two sons; James "Jim" Ballentine Stuckey Sr., who resides in Easley with his wife Nannette (Nan); and William "Bill" Carson Stuckey, who lives in Hendersonville, NC with his wife Catherine (Cathy). Mimi's nurturing spirit extended to her role as a grandmother to twelve grandchildren; JB (Kelli), Frank, Alicia (Jason), Carson (Paige), Jarrett (Deceased) (Kasey), Christina (Jesse), Julianna (Richard), Katie, Margaret, Will (Emily), Alex, and Benjamin; and also to twenty-one great-grandchildren: Taylor, Caroline, Wyatt, Kaylee, Jace, Nadia, Cooper, Mila, Aria, Tatum, Ellie, Asher, Iain, Jude, Isaac, Mark, Paul, Ivy, Malachi, Samantha, and Joanna. As Aunt Barbara she maintained strong, unbroken relationships with her remaining nieces and nephews: Rhett, Ted, Lucy Allene, Frank, Rena, Lucy, Chandler, and Becky. She will also be missed by special friends Judy Bonham and Julie Jameson. 

A memorial service to honor and celebrate Barbara's life will take place on Friday, November 3, 2023. The service will be held in the chapel of Foothills Presbyterian Retirement Community located at 205 Bud Nalley Drive Easley, SC 29642. The memorial service will begin at 2:00 PM. A visitation will follow the service. 

A private burial will be held at Greenlawn Memorial Park.

Please visit RobinsonFuenrlaHomes.com or Robinson Funeral Home & Crematory - Downtown, Easley.