BARBARA DAVIS BERKELEY
June 28, 1932-Oct. 19, 2014
Barbara Jane Davis Berkeley, 82, Goldsboro, passed away Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014, at her home surrounded by her family.
Barbara was born in Washington, D.C., June 28, 1932, the daughter of Earl M. Davis and Eva Gilbert.
She graduated from Sykesville, Md.,High School and from Maryland General Hospital School of Nursing, where she met and later married her husband, Dr. Bruce Berkeley.
Barbara and her husband moved to Goldsboro in 1960. Soon thereafter, Barbara was appointed to the Biracial Council and the Women's Goodwill Committee. There she helped start Operation Bootstrap, a forerunner of WAGES.
She was a director and treasurer of Bright Street School, which was the predecessor of Head Start.
For nine years Barbara was the leader of a minority Girl Scout troop, and was promoter, organizer and director of what is now known as The Arts Council of Wayne County.
During this period, Barbara was active in her church. She served as a member and clerk of the Vestry of Saint Stephen's Church, and was a worker in the church's geriatric program at Cherry Hospital and as a worker and collector of clothing for the East Carolina Diocesan program for migrant workers at Newton Grove.
Foremost in her personal contributions to Saint Stephen's was her constant leadership in the establishment and operation of the Community Soup Kitchen for 25 years.
For all this work, Barbara received numerous awards including the Governor's Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service by Governor Martin in 1986. Other awards include Dillard Alumni Citizenship Award (1968-1969), Zeta Beta Sorority Woman of the Year (1969), Troop Leader Recognition Award from Troop 447 Girl Scouts of America, Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church Humanitarian Award (1984), Goldsboro Jay Cetts Distinguished Service Award (1985), Federal Women's Program Award for Outstanding Achievement and Community Service (1989) and Diocese of East Carolina Unsung Service Award (1995).
A graveside service will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Willow Dale Cemetery, with the Rev. Jill Beimdiek and the Rev. Mary Reese officiating.
The family will receive Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church.
Barbara is survived by her husband of 60 years, Scott Bruce Berkeley Jr.; her daughter, Anne Gilbert Berkeley; and her son, Scott Bruce Berkeley III.
Memorials may be made to Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church, 200 N. James St., Goldsboro, N.C., 27530, or Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church, 901 Harris St., Goldsboro, N.C., 27530.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on October 21, 2014 1:49 PM