ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Ida Shaw Applewhite Barber, 93, of St. Petersburg, Fla., passed away Sunday, June 21, 2009.

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She was born in Durham, raised in Halifax, and upon graduating from Weldon High School at the tender age of 16, she immediately enrolled in Duke University and received her B.A. four years later. She was active in the Glee Club, Alpha Phi Sorority and other extracurricular activities. She then continued at Duke in the Graduate School of Nursing, received her degree in October of 1939 and was certified as a registered nurse by the State of North Carolina one month later. After her marriage to William “Bill” L. Barber Sr. they resided in Charlotte, where she started and opened the first chapter of the American Red Cross in Charlotte. Other positions she thrived at were The Visiting Nurses Association of St. Petersburg, director of nursing at the start up of the Neighborly Center for elderly day care, director of nursing for the St. Petersburg Chapter of the American Red Cross, lead disaster coordinator for the 1977 Kentucky mudslide disaster, as well as manning first aid stations at the Festival of States Parade. A long term member of Pasadena Community Church, she served in a wide variety of volunteer roles. In her earlier years at the church, she was a youth Sunday school teacher, a Sunday morning greeter and a participating member of Horns and Halos adult fellowship. She also drew on her professional skills as the first volunteer parish nurse, parish visitor and a member of the Christian Counseling Center. The world is a lesser place in her absence.

Mrs. Barber was preceded in death by her father and mother, Robert Lawrence Applewhite and Geneva Cheatham Applewhite of Halifax; her husband, William Lawrence Barber Sr. of St. Petersburg; her daughter, Ida May Barber Summers of Jacksonville, Fla.; her sister, Elizabeth Cheatham Applewhite Grant and her husband, Dr. Henry Boone Grant, of Rocky Mount; and her aunt, Ida May Cheatham of Weldon.

She is survived by daughter, Amy A. Barber Clement and her husband, John E. Clement, of Valrico, Fla.; two sons, Robert S. Barber and his wife, Cindy L. Barber, of Queensbury, N.Y., and William Barber; a sister, Geneva Cheatham Stanley and her husband, Dr. John Stanley, of Woodland; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Friends were received Thursday, June 25, at R. Lee Williams & Son Funeral Home of St. Petersburg, with a funeral service at 1:30 p.m.

 A graveside memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Halifax United Methodist Church Cemetery, with Rev. Caswell Shaw officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested in her memory to your favorite charity.

Askew Funeral & Cremation Services in Roanoke Rapids is handling the local arrangements. 

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.askewfs.com.