Barbara Wimbish Newby

Barbara Delores Wimbish Newby, 89, passed away peacefully on June 6, 2024, at Obici Hospital in Suffolk, Virginia with her devoted daughter, Tomia Newby-Brown, by her side. Born on March 6, 1935, in Raleigh, North Carolina, Barbara was the only daughter of the late George Scott Wimbish and Della Elizabeth Perry Wimbish. Barbara was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Thomas Amos Newby, a native of Norfolk, Virginia, whom she married in Chesapeake, Virginia on June 29, 1957. Growing up in Norfolk, Virginia and North Carolina, Barbara valued education. She attended the 1st through 4th grades in Norfolk Public Schools before the family moved to Raleigh, where she completed her grade school education at St. Monica’s Catholic School. When her family moved to Norfolk County (Chesapeake), Barbara completed the 9th grade at St. Joseph’s Catholic School. She later attended Norfolk County High School, graduating valedictorian of her class in 1953. Barbara completed the 2-year program at Norfolk Division of Virginia State College (later Norfolk State University) before graduating in 1957 from Virginia State College (later Virginia State University) as an honor graduate with a B.S. in Music Education. Barbara later completed an M.S. in Early Childhood Education at Old Dominion University. She also studied at the Peabody Conservatory of Music at Hampton University. After graduating from Virginia State, Barbara married the love of her life, Dr. Thomas A. Newby, a Norfolk educator and principal of Booker T. Washington High School. The couple welcomed their daughter, Tomia A. Newby, in 1968, who pursued a career in nursing, graduating from Hampton University. Tomia is currently an RN with Bon Secours Infusion Center. Barbara and Tom were married for 39 ½ years until his death in 1997. Barbara taught at Georgie Tyler High School in Windsor, Virginia from 1957 until 1959 before securing a position in the Princess Anne County school system (now the Virginia Beach public schools). In 1964, she was hired as a music teacher in Norfolk Public Schools. In 1977, she was recognized for her outstanding service when selected as the Teacher of the Year at Camp Allen Elementary School. She continued teaching her students to appreciate and love music until she retired after 30 years, in 1993. Even after Barbara retired, she continued sharing her love of music. As an active and dedicated member of Community Presbyterian Church, she served as the organist and director of the Charles E. Diggs Memorial Men’s Choir and the Senior Choir, a position she served for 63 years. Barbara also served as the secretary of the Community Presbyterian Church’s Worship Committee, the Pastor’s Nomination Committee, and as a member of the Dorcas Circle, the CP Women’s Organization. And while her family and church were most important, Barbara was active in her community. Portsmouth residents knew how much she valued her responsibilities as a citizen and voter because she served as an Election Officer for the City of Portsmouth for 24 years. She was also a member of the NAACP, a life member of the Virginia Education Association (VEA), and the Norfolk Education Association (NEA). Barbara was also a dedicated member of her sorority. As a Golden Life Member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Portsmouth Alumnae Chapter, she worked on numerous community projects that were part of their 5-Point Plan that included educational development, political awareness and involvement, economic development, international awareness and involvement, and physical and mental health. Barbara loved family and church and was seldom absent from family gatherings, birthday celebrations, church services and meetings, weddings, funerals, or casual get-togethers. She leaves behind her beloved daughter, Tomia and son-in-law, Joseph Brown, Aunt Frieda Rapelyea, sisters-in-law, Mrs. Claytea B. Newby and Mrs. Margaret Bradley, brother-in-law, Vaughan Bradley Sr., godson, Cornell Hiawatha Demby, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who were touched by her love of life, generous heart, inquisitive spirit, and enduring hopefulness. Barbara was especially thankful to Dr. Ayham Deeb and his staff at Virginia Oncology, the nurses and staff at Obici Hospital’s Outpatient Infusion Center, and her caregivers Cynthia Carman and Diane Turner. A wake will be held at J.T. Fisher Funeral Services on Thursday, June 13, 2024, from 3:00 PM until 6:00 PM. Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 14, 2024, at 10:30 AM at Community Presbyterian Church in Portsmouth, VA. Interment will follow at Roosevelt Memorial Park Cemetery, Chesapeake, Virginia. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to J.T. Fisher Funeral Services, Portsmouth, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Community Presbyterian Church in Portsmouth.

Barbara Wimbish Newby

March 6, 1935 - June 6, 2024