Barbara Love

Barbara Marie Williams Love of Nashville, TN passed away on April 3, 2024 peacefully at the age of 89. She was born January 23, 1935 in Athens, OH. She was preceded in death by her husband Russell J. Love in March 2006; her parents Clark and Marie Jewett Williams; and her brother Clark E. Williams, Jr.  She is survived by her two sons Steven R. Love (Chalayne) of Asheville, NC and Gregory C. Love (Kerry), of Nashville, TN and her sister Carolyn Lester of Cromwell, CT. Barbara had six beloved grandchildren: Christopher, Matthew, and Michael Love, and Nicholas, Cassandra and Megan Love; and great-grandchild Leo Love.

Barbara graduated in 1956 from Ohio University in Athens, where she was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, Alpha Lambda Delta Honorary Society, and Kappa Phi Methodist Student organization. She was also very active in the Wesley Foundation. She received a Master’s degree in Speech Therapy from Northwestern University in 1960. Barbara worked as a speech therapist in Jamestown, ND at the Anne Carlson School, and at the Illinois Children’s Hospital School in Chicago, IL. While at Northwestern she met the love of her life Russell and they were was married in 1961.

Barbara had a strong love of music and the arts and participated in choirs from high school on. She was a member of the Wesley Foundation Choir in college, and was proud to be a member of the West End United Methodist Church Chancel Choir for 37 years. During her time at West End she was also a member of the Drama Committee and participated in several productions. Barbara regularly attended the Nashville Symphony, Ballet and Opera, and enjoyed the theater.

She was an avid sports fan and enjoyed football, especially her Titans and rarely missed watching a game on TV. Barbara regularly attended her children’s sports activities when they were younger. She enjoyed crafting, sewing and knitting. Barbara loved gardening and would often spend long hours outside in her gardens and plantings. Barbara enjoyed travel and visited Europe several times on choir tours, and with family and friends.  She had a passionate interest in genealogy and has done extensive research as to the origins of the Williams and Love family trees. She was a strong supporter of diversity and believed that God loves everyone unconditionally. Barbara held all of her family and friends close to her heart and will be sorely missed by all of us. Please join us in celebrating her life.