Mabel Savannah Sharpe Barber was born on May 31, 1918, in Greensboro, NC to the late George W. Sharpe and Lamar Ingram Sharpe. She had one older sibling, Walter Sharpe, who was killed in Germany during World War II. Mabel graduated from Mary Potter Memorial School in Oxford, NC and she attended Winston-Salem Teachers College, now Winston-Salem State University. She married Alexander Eugene Barber, Sr. in May 1937. To this union were born, Alexander, Jr. of Winston-Salem, NC; Freddie Barber of Fort Lee, NJ; Sondra Barber Akins of Teaneck, NJ; and Mary Barber Worthy of Springfield, MA. She and Alexander, Sr. were married for 65 years before his death in 2002. She was a loving mother-in-law to Portia Barber, Daniel Akins, and Olander Worthy. She had ten grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren and a number of great-great, grandchildren.

Mrs. Barber was a charter member of Zion Memorial Baptist Church where she served as Deaconess and Missionary. She was active in the Sunday School and several other church auxiliaries. She retired from Winston-Salem State University after 29 years of service.

In addition to her family mentioned above, Mrs. Barber leaves a niece, Dorothy Lee of Durham NC. And a host of cousins among the Ingram and Sharpe families. Through her marriage to Alexander Barber, Sr. a host of nieces and nephews include Clarene Stewart, Almena Lyles, and Loretta Jackson of Winston-Salem, NC; Earnestine Long and Barbara Cole of Syracuse NY, Johnny Paul Barber of St. Louis MO and many grand nieces and nephews. A devoted niece by marriage, Bertha Berry recently preceded her in death. She had an extended family of children, who were dear to her heart including Ted (now deceased) and Rose Mebane, and special children in Christ, Albertina Shuler and Barbara McGhee. She leaves many friends to mourn her loss.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00noon Friday, September 23, 2016 at Zion Memorial Baptist Church. Interment will follow in Piedmont Memorial Gardens. The family visitation will be held from 6:00pm until 7:00pm on Thursday, September 22, 2016 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel and from 11:30am until 12:00noon on Friday at the Church.