Biography

Barbara Bright Sherwood, of Lynchburg, went to her heavenly home to be with her Lord and Savior on January 13, 2010 at Virginia Baptist Hospital. She was the wife of Dr. William A. Sherwood for 42 years. Barbara was born on April 14, 1934 in Durham, N.C. to Mont Jackson Bright, Sr. and Lucile Grady Bright, both deceased. When a young child her family moved to Chapel Hill, N.C. where Barbara graduated from the Chapel Hill public schools, and then from the UNC-CH, where she earned her Bachelor=s and Master=s degrees. She taught in Wilmington, N.C. and in Asheville, N.C., and was elected to Alpha Delta Kappa, honorary teachers’ sorority. She returned to Chapel Hill due to illness in her family and worked there for the UNC Institute for Research in Social Science. Immediately following their marriage in 1967 she and Bill moved to New York where Bill served a two-year post-doctoral fellowship at the New York Botanical Gardens. During their stay in N.Y. Barbara worked in the Social Services Department at St. Barnabas Hospital. Upon leaving N.Y. they moved to Lynchburg, VA where Bill joined the faculty of Lynchburg College. Barbara was a stay-at-home mom for fifteen years, after which she joined the staff of Interfaith Outreach Association from which she retired. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church
In addition to her husband, Barbara is survived by their beloved daughters Lauren S. Ford and her husband, Kelvin, of Greensboro, N.C. and Martha S. Bryant and her husband, Bennie and his son, Justin, of Lynchburg; two cherished granddaughters, Laura Morgan Ford and Karlin Grace Ford of Greensboro; a brother, Mont Jackson Bright, Jr. and his wife Jean Teare Bright of Lakewood, Colorado, their three daughters and their families.
The family wishes to express appreciation for the care provided by Dr. Pamela M. Caulkins of Central Virginia Family Physicians, Dr. Dwight S. Oldham and the oncology staff of the Pearson Cancer Center, Dr. Harry C. Eschenroeder of the Orthopedic Center of Central Virginia, the Westminister Canterbury Rehabilitation staff, and to Hospice of the Hills for their loving care and support. We also wish to acknowledge the many acts of kindness by our church family and numerous friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts could be made to the Building Fund of Calvary Baptist Church, 20957 Timberlake Road, Lynchburg, VA 24502 or to the American Cancer Society, 2316 Atherholt Road, Lynchburg, VA 24501.
A funeral service will be held Friday, January 15, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. at Calvary Baptist Church, 20957 Timberlake Road. Visitation will begin at 10:00 A.M. preceding the service. Burial will follow at Fort Hill Memorial Park.
Diuguid Funeral Service-Waterlick Chapel ( 237-2722 ), Timberlake Road, is serving the family.