Mrs. Barbara Shirah Harden

B a r b a r a S h i r a h H a r d e n Barbara Shirah Harden, 73, of Albany, Georgia joined her Lord and her loved ones already in Heaven on Saturday evening, February 24, 2018. After an extended battle with cancer, she died at her home surrounded by her family and friends. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, February 27 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Home in Albany, Georgia. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 28 at Hopeful Baptist Church with interment following the service in the church cemetery. Rev. Clay Cloud, Rev. Jeff Cook and Rev. Sandy Conley will officiate. Pallbearers will be John Bloodworth, Blake Cunningham, Lem Goodpasture, Cleve Shirah, Jay Shirah, Paul Shirah and John Thompson. Born August 28, 1944 in Hopeful, Georgia, Barbara was the daughter of the late Lynda Smith Shirah Mercer and James Louie Shirah Sr. She began her studies at Mercer University and graduated from Valdosta State University in 1965 with a nursing degree. She obtained her masters degree from Valdosta State University in 1987. Barbara spent her working life first as a nurse and then served as Deputy Director of the Southwest Georgia Department of Public Health. During her retirement years, she and her beloved dog Charlye became active participants in Albany’s Paws Patrol. Barbara’s great passion and hobby was interior design. She enjoyed creating beautiful homes for herself and loved ones utilizing her talent for beauty and comfort. Throughout the years, she enjoyed hosting holiday and other special family events. Left to cherish her loving memory are her devoted husband Richard Harden of Albany, two brothers Donald Shirah of Hopeful, Georgia and Louie Shirah (Jan) of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, a sister Beth Shirah Thompson (Tommy) of Cordele, Georgia, nieces Cile Shirah, Jo Bloodworth and Dona Lyn Goodpasture, nephews Cleve Shirah, John Thompson, Jay Shirah, Paul Shirah, step-daughter, Kristy Flowers (Jim) of Marietta, Georgia, step-son, Rick Harden (Maggie) of Charlottesville, Virginia, four grandsons, four grandnephews and six grandnieces. Barbara is preceded in death by her parents, husbands Dudley Evans and Thomas (Butch) Jackson, and most recently her sister-in-law, Jane Pafford Shirah (Donald). Memorials may be made to Hopeful Baptist Church and Christ United Methodist Church in Albany, Georgia.

Mrs. Barbara Shirah Harden

August 28, 1944 - February 24, 2018