Barbara Paris Lovell, age 70 of Griffin, GA, died Friday, January 22, 2021 at Wellstar Spalding Regional Hospital. Barbie was born on March 14, 1950 in Wilmington, DE and was the daughter of the late Charles and Ruth Owings Paris. She worked for E.I. DuPont de Nemours/Agfa in Brevard for 33 years where she worked in Employee Relations, the Safety Office, the Finishing Department, Human Resources, Research and Development, and finally as the Executive Secretary to Plant Manager until the plant closed in 2001.
When the DuPont/Agfa plant closed in Brevard, Barbie transferred to the Agfa plant in Goose Creek, SC as the Executive Secretary to the plant manager until her retirement in 2003. Following her retirement, she was an auxiliary volunteer at Simpsonville Regional Hospital and Griffin Regional Hospital and volunteered with A Child’s Haven in Greenville, SC. Barbie was a graduate of Brevard High School in the class of 1968 and also graduated from Brevard Junior College.
Barbie was a member of Griffin First United Methodist Church where she was a member of the Joy Circle and was the secretary for the Board of Griffin FUMC United Methodist Women. She was a former member of the Amateur Trapshooting Association and won two state titles as the North Carolina Lady’s Champion and placed second at the Grand American Trap Shooting event. Barbie also practiced karate for seven years and earned her black belt. She was an avid movie buff and sports fanatic.
Barbie’s favorite activity was to spend time with her family. She was present at all major and minor family events including the birth of her three nieces and each of their ten children, as well as birthday parties, holidays, graduations, weddings and family reunions. She always came bearing desserts for every occasion including her famous Christmas donuts. Barbie was a devoted wife, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, great-aunt, pet mom and friend.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Ronald C. Paris.
Survivors include her husband, John Lovell of the home, her sister-in-law, Janice Paris and her nieces, Monica Lee and husband Chris, Ashley Day and husband Brian, and Jennifer Webb, all of Forest City, NC, and great-nieces and nephews – Kelsey Dobbins and husband Trevor, Mackenzie Fletcher, Gabriella Day, Adrienne Kelly, Isaac Lee, Alexandra Day, Nadia Kelly, Jacob Lee, Charles Day, and Josh Webb.
A private funeral service will be held on Friday, January 29, 2021 at Blue Ridge Gardens of Memory in Pisgah Forest, NC with Reverend Garin Hill officiating. A Celebration of Life will occur on an undetermined date.
In lieu of flowers, please donate or volunteer at one of the following in memory of Barbie:
A Child’s Haven - 210 Martin Dr., Greenville, SC 29617, https://achildshaven.org/donate/
Noahs’s Ark Animal Sanctuary – 712 L G Griffin Rd, Locust Grove, GA 30248, https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/noahsark?code=2015websitedonation
Moody-Connolly Funeral Home in Brevard, NC is in charge of arrangements with Conner-Westbury Funeral Home in Griffin, GA assisting. An online guest registry is available at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com.