Barbara Anne Edenfield Cary-Thomas came into this world on July 6, 1931, in Sanford, Florida. She was the beloved daughter of Mary (Minnie) Amelia Cole and Walter R. Edenfield.
She attended schools in Sanford, graduating from Seminole High School in 1949, continuing her education at Florida State University where she became a member of Alpha Delta Pi. It is also where she met and fell in love with her future husband, George Cary of Tampa, Fl. They joyfully raised three children together, Reed, Marcia, and Greg. In her later years she went on to marry Dr. James Thomas, spending many happy years together in Carrollton, Ga.
She was very proud of her work with the Tampa Historic Preservation Society in helping to restore Hyde Park, as well as contributing to the rehab of the old Tampa Theatre. Among other civic and community involvements, she was a committed member of the League of Women Voters and a founding member of Palma Ceia United Methodist Church.
Her love and devotion for God, who was her guiding force, and for her family, was unwavering. Her spirituality shone through in many ways, her love of music, playing the piano, singing in the church choir, dancing (barefoot if she had her way), and praising God.
She was a very bright, beautiful person and an amazing mother. She loved nature, spending hours tending to her flowers and plants, striving to keep them in as natural a state as possible. She enjoyed sports and was an avid FSU fan. But probably her favorite pastime was spending summers at her beloved beach house in Indian Shores, Fl. There she was in her true element, hosting friends, gathering family, and being surrounded by her kids (and their many, many friends), and later her grands and great grands. She just loved to be connected to people. She was a matriarch in all sense of the word.
She peacefully left this world on August 26, 2023, at home with family by her side, as she went to be with God.
Her sister, Evelyn Edenfield Riette (Louis), her brother, Lofton Edenfield (Iris), her husbands, George Henry Cary and James Deward Thomas, and her son-in-law, Thomas Ranald Stewart all left before her.
She will be greatly missed by her children, Reed Cole Cary, Marcia Cary Stewart and Gregory Paul Cary (Carolyn) as well as her grandchildren, Whitney Cary Lenglet (Louis), Cole Michael Cary, Thomas Ranald Stewart (Amanda), Cary Stewart Cannon, Emmery Paul Cary, and Lillian Marie Cary, along with her great-grandchildren, Madison Claire Stewart, Kellen Thomas Stewart, Taylor Nicole Cannon, and Troy Thomas Cannon and lastly her devoted niece, Lynn Riette Cooper (Bob) and children, David Cooper (Miranda) and Amanda Cooper Fine (Jeff), and nephew, Merritt Edenfield and daughters, Chelsea Edenfield Schuler (Matt) and Laura Edenfield Hampton (Ryan).
Barbara’s Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10am on Saturday, September 9th, at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 606 Newman St, Carrollton, GA.
