Celebrating the life of
Barbara Zipperer O'Conner
Passed away on September 13, 2015
Barbara Zipperer Barras O'Conner
Barbara Zipperer Barras O'Conner, 80, passed away September 13, 2015 at her home after a short illness. She was preceded in death by her parents, Cleveland Grover Zipperer & Annie Ruth Barbaree, a sister, Gail Strausbaugh, her second husband Paul D. O'Conner, and her son, Donald Barras. She is survived by her first husband and father of her children, Roland Barras, whose love and companionship brought much joy to her twilight years, her daughter, Lisa Marie Barras who was a loving and devoted caretaker for her mother; five siblings: Nancy Heck, Grover Zipperer (Karen), Eleanor Hutson (Robert), Terry Bowne, and Robert Zipperer (Patty); seven grandchildren (Patrick, Jason, Daniel, Marie, Justin, Hunter , and Ashley) eleven great grand-children, and many nieces and nephews. Mark Hadden, as well as Maryann Estill, though not blood relatives, might as well have been for the many years in which they loved her like family.
Barbara attended Immanuel Baptist Church as a child, and throughout her life she was secure in her faith in Jesus Christ. She was a graduate of Commercial High School 1953. Barbara had a tremendous work ethic. She initially worked for her father at Hester & Zipperer. She owned and ran The Busy B, a general store and Isle of Hope’s last post office from 1972 to 1974. She worked with her sister Gail at The B Hive children's shop, at Treasures By the Sea on Tybee Island, and later worked again for her brother Grover at Hester & Zipperer until she retired at age 70. One way she expressed her love of family and friends was through cooking. She taught 3 generations of family how to cook and her pound cake, having been enjoyed by troops deployed overseas, could without much exaggeration be called “world-famous”.
Visitation will be Friday, September 18, 2015 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m at Fox & Weeks Hodgson Chapel. Her Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 10 a.m. at Isle of Hope Baptist Church.
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
Please accept my heartfelt sadness at the passing of Ms Barbara. I was a little girl attending Isle of Hope school when I knew her as Mrs. Barras. We loved going to the Busy B after school for candy and she was always so kind to me. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful statement of her life. She was and is clearly a most-loved woman. God Bless you all.
- Lisa Smitj, York, Sc
Dear Tony, Heidi, and family, I am so sorry for your loss. It wasn't until reading this that I realized I actually have met her at Hester and Zipperer. I had no idea she was your grandmother. I miss that shop a lot. She was such a lovely lady, always smiling, and always had the best suggestions for me about things I needed. Much love and light to your whole family.
- Ruby Nicole Barnett, Bloomington, IL
I would like to express my condolences for the loss of your dear love one. No doubt she will be missed by many. May you find comfort in in the loving promise found at Revelation 21:4: "And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away". What a joy that will be when there is no more suffering.
- Mrs. Khan, Snellville, GA
I AM SO SORRY TO LEARN OF BARBARA'S TRANSITION. MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO ALL HER FAMILIES. I DIDN'T GET TO KNOW THE YOUNGER ONES SINCE BEING OLDER & MOVING AWAY I LOVED BARBARA AS MY YOUNGER SISTER HAVING BABY SAT HER AND GAIL WHEN THEY WERE SMALL. MY HEART IS HEAVY FOR ALL LOVE FRANCES PERRY DOUBERLY
- frances douberly, midlothian, va
I AM SO SORRY TO LEARN OF BARBARA'S TRANSITION. MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO ALL HER FAMILIES. I DIDN'T GET TO KNOW THE YOUNGER ONES SINCE BEING OLDER & MOVING AWAY I LOVED BARBARA AS MY YOUNGER SISTER HAVING BABY SAT HER AND GAIL WHEN THEY WERE SMALL. MY HEART IS HEAVY FOR ALL LOVE FRANCES PERRY DOUBERLY
- frances douberly, midlothian, va
Lisa, Blackie and family, My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this most difficult time.
- Carolyn Beebe, Savannah, Ga
I was saddened to read of Miss Barbara's passing, she was always such a sweet and nice woman to me. I remember riding my bike to her store on Isle of Hope as a kid to spend my allowance. She always treated me like I was one of her own kids, even when I was in my fifties. My prayers are with Lisa and the family.
- Robyn Quattlebaum, Savannah, Ga
Please accept my heartfelt sadness at the passing of Ms Barbara. I was a little girl attending Isle of Hope school when I knew her as Mrs. Barras. We loved going to the Busy B after school for candy and she was always so kind to me. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful statement of her life. She was and is clearly a most-loved woman. God Bless you all.
- Lisa Smitj, York, Sc
Dear Tony, Heidi, and family, I am so sorry for your loss. It wasn't until reading this that I realized I actually have met her at Hester and Zipperer. I had no idea she was your grandmother. I miss that shop a lot. She was such a lovely lady, always smiling, and always had the best suggestions for me about things I needed. Much love and light to your whole family.
- Ruby Nicole Barnett, Bloomington, IL
I would like to express my condolences for the loss of your dear love one. No doubt she will be missed by many. May you find comfort in in the loving promise found at Revelation 21:4: "And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away". What a joy that will be when there is no more suffering.
- Mrs. Khan, Snellville, GA
I AM SO SORRY TO LEARN OF BARBARA'S TRANSITION. MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO ALL HER FAMILIES. I DIDN'T GET TO KNOW THE YOUNGER ONES SINCE BEING OLDER & MOVING AWAY I LOVED BARBARA AS MY YOUNGER SISTER HAVING BABY SAT HER AND GAIL WHEN THEY WERE SMALL. MY HEART IS HEAVY FOR ALL LOVE FRANCES PERRY DOUBERLY
- frances douberly, midlothian, va
I AM SO SORRY TO LEARN OF BARBARA'S TRANSITION. MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO ALL HER FAMILIES. I DIDN'T GET TO KNOW THE YOUNGER ONES SINCE BEING OLDER & MOVING AWAY I LOVED BARBARA AS MY YOUNGER SISTER HAVING BABY SAT HER AND GAIL WHEN THEY WERE SMALL. MY HEART IS HEAVY FOR ALL LOVE FRANCES PERRY DOUBERLY
- frances douberly, midlothian, va
Lisa, Blackie and family, My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this most difficult time.
- Carolyn Beebe, Savannah, Ga
I was saddened to read of Miss Barbara's passing, she was always such a sweet and nice woman to me. I remember riding my bike to her store on Isle of Hope as a kid to spend my allowance. She always treated me like I was one of her own kids, even when I was in my fifties. My prayers are with Lisa and the family.
- Robyn Quattlebaum, Savannah, Ga
Services under the direction of:
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
912-352-7200
