Barbara Goodroe Henson passed away at the age of ninety-five on September 17, 2026, in Birmingham, Alabama. A Celebration of Life for Barbara will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, November 6, 2026, at Buena Vista Methodist Church. The family will greet friends after the service in the Fellowship Hall of the church.

On August 9, 1931, Barbara was born to Mamie and Lelius Goodroe in Brantley, Georgia. After her family moved to Buena Vista when she was a child, she lived in Buena Vista her entire life, except for the last ten years she lived in Birmingham, Alabama.

Barbara attended Marion County High School where she played basketball. After graduating at the age of fifteen, she began working in town. As part of her job, she walked to the bank every day to make daily deposits. This walk just happened to take her right by the windows at Wight Motor Company. Little did she know that Wight employed a young man, Johnson Henson, who had recently returned to Buena Vista from being stationed in India during the War. As she made her daily walks past the windows, Barbara soon caught Johnson’s eye. It was not long before Johnson started courting her and by May 1947, they were married and began their wonderful life together.

Soon thereafter, Barbara and Johnson started their family and had two daughters, Dianne Murray (Gray) and Elaine McGarrah (Scott), who were raised in Buena Vista. Barbara was blessed with six brothers and sisters who were dearly loved by Barbara, Johnson, and the girls. Her parents, brothers and sisters not only played a vital role in their lives, but also in the lives of Dianne and Elaine and their families. Barbara instilled the importance of faith and family in one’s life, not only to her girls, but to her grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She always felt so blessed. Her church and family meant so much to her. She will be missed by her family and friends.

Barbara’s life was filled with being with her family and friends, doing for her church, arranging flowers, tending to her garden, playing bridge, and watching sports. She was an active member of Buena Vista Methodist Church and the Buena Vista Garden Club. Barbara was an accomplished bridge player, winning many bridge tournaments with her dear friend and bridge partner, Burton Wight.

Barbara was preceded in death by her loving husband, Johnson, who died in December 2014. Two years later she moved to Birmingham to be with Dianne and Elaine and their families. Barbara is survived by her two daughters, their husbands, six grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters, Janice Kish and Dorothy Singer, and two brothers, William Goodroe (Lana) and Richard Goodroe. Sisters Joyce McGibboney and Jean Gunnels preceded Barbara in death.

In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate donations in memory of Barbara to the Buena Vista First Methodist Church (130 N. Broad Street, Buena Vista, GA. 31803) or to the charity of the donor’s choice.