Elizabeth M Barber

Elizabth M. Barber was born to Geneva Whitley and John Britt on July 28, 1926, in Lenoir County, North Carolina. Elizabeth passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 22, 2026 at the Capitol City Rehabilitation Health Care Center, in Washington, DC. Elizabeth spent her early years in North Carolina before eventually moving to Buffalo, New York with her mother and beloved uncle, John Whitely. She attended the Buffalo Public System. Elizabeth met and married Jay Conyer and was blessed to help raise his two children, Cynthia and Bernard. Later in life she met and married Arthur Barber Jr., 1986. They married in 1986. They shared 23 years of marriage until Arthur’s passing in 2009. She remained very close to Arthur’s five adult children, especially Jerome, whom she loved dearly. Elizabeth enjoyed cooking delicious meals for her family on holidays. She loved entertaining, listening to gospel music and watching old Western television programs. She was also very talented and creative. She enjoyed knitting, needlepoint and making her own clothes. She took great pride in creating things with her own hands. She was a woman of deep faith and was a dedicated and an active member of Saints Tabernacle COGIC. She faithfully served, for more than 10 years, as President of the Mother’s Board, a Deaconess, and an Usher. Elizabeth worked at the Calspan Plant in Buffalo, NY, from where she retired. After retiring, she worked and volunteered at the Bellany Commons Senior Citizen Building, which she affectionately called “1490” after the building’s address. She truly enjoyed spending time with the seniors and loved sharing many of the stories and humorous moments and memorable things they would say and do. Her time with them brought her great joy. Elizabeth was affectionately known as “Babe.” Wanting to be closer to her family, in 2015 she moved to the Emmerson House in Bladensburg, Maryland. During her time there, she formed a very close friendship with Ms. Julia Stevens. One of the joys of relocating to the Washington Metropolitan area was locating several nieces and nephews, whom she had never met before. One of those special relationships was with her nephew, Walter Tollier. Elizabeth and Walter quickly formed a close bond and he faithfully visited her every week. Their relationship was a true reflection of the love connection she cherished with her family. It was especially fitting that Walter was the last family member to visit Elizabeth on Saturday, August 22, 2026, giving him one final opportunity to share his love and spend precious time with his beloved aunt. During her stay at the Emerson House her cousins Jessie Mae, Pat and Terry, her niece Roslyn stepped up to make sure she was well taken care of. She would often tell Terry “he was spoiling her by bringing her all that good food.” In 2025, Babe moved to Capitol City Rehabilitation Center, where she continued to receive care and support and was lovingly known to everyone as “grandma.” Babe was lively, courageous, full of spirit, often with a readiness to fight or argue despite being small and at a disadvantage. She was very feisty and would let you know exactly how she felt. It is that feistiness that all of us will miss. Babe will be dearly missed by her brother, Lendell Wooten of LaGrange, North Carolina; her sons, Bernard Conyer and Jerome Barber; his other siblings in Buffalo New York; and her grandchildren, especially, Tiffany Conyer of Buffalo, New York. She will also be lovingly remembered by her nieces, Roslyn Pitts (Marvin) of Lugoff, South Carolina; Judy Whitley of Buffalo, New York; and Michelle and Irene Tollier of Baltimore, Maryland. Her nephews include Victor Wooten (Valerie) of LaGrange, North Carolina, and Walter Tollier of Baltimore, Maryland; special friend Julia Stevens of Bladensburg, Maryland and a host of other family and friends. As well as the entire staff of Capitol City Rehabilitation and Health Care Center of Washington, DC.

Elizabeth M Barber

July 28, 2026 - August 22, 2026