Valerie Joy Barber

It is with great sadness that our family announces the passing of Valerie Joy Barber, 61. Valerie passed away peacefully on November 3, 2025, in Jesup, Georgia.

Valerie was born on August 4, 1964, in Middletown, Connecticut, and grew up amid the beauty of the Connecticut River Valley. Valerie graduated from Hale-Ray High School in 1983 and dedicated her life to helping others, spending much of her career with the State of Connecticut supporting individuals with disabilities. Her compassion, patience, and kindness touched countless lives.

Valerie is predeceased by her loving grandparents, Matthias J. and Hellen V. Schilchen, Hazel and Charles Barber and also by her stepfather Gerald A. Johnson. Valerie is survived by her mother, Theresa “Terry” Johnson; father, Theodore Barber; and stepmother, Sandra Barber. She is also survived by her sisters Victoria Urbano, Cynthia Dolana, and Loretta Barber-Miner; brothers-in-law Joseph Urbano, Cornel Dolana, and Alfred Miner; and her step-siblings Sheryl Yarosevich, Carrie French, Cooper Johnson, Danny Johnson, Scott Kerns, and James Kerns. She leaves behind her daughter, Jessica Robbins, son-in-law Dustin Robbins, and beloved grandson Porter Robbins, who brought immeasurable joy to her life. Valerie will be dearly missed by a large and loving family of nieces, nephews, extended relatives, and cherished friends. Her loyal dogs, River and Cooper, were her constant companions and a great source of comfort and happiness.

Valerie’s passions reflected her vibrant, creative spirit. She loved cooking, crafting, especially cross-stitch, gardening, and spending time outdoors with her animals. A true lover of nature, she found peace near the water, whether relaxing by the pool or listening to the waves at the beach. She had a rare gift for connection: her warm smile and contagious laugh could brighten any room, and she made everyone feel like family. Often, she’d meet a stranger and somehow discover they had grown up just a few houses apart even in another state or country.

Valerie will be remembered for her joyful heart, boundless kindness, and ability to make others feel seen, loved, and at home. Her light continues to shine through the many lives she touched.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Connecticut at a later date in 2026. More details will follow; once plans are finalized, they will be shared through friends and family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the Leukemia Research Foundation, 191 Waukegan Road, Suite 105, Northfield, Ilinois 60093, or online at http://Leukemiarf.org

Thomas L. Carter Funeral Home & Crematory is handling the arrangements. 

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