Remembering Barby

Some said she had a smile that could only come from God. Others said she had a commitment to her job in the Campus Ministry and Internatinal Campaigns office at Harding University unmatched by anyone. Still others said Barby Smith was a lover of people.

"She was just an expression of love everywhere she went," senior Shaya Hancock, who worked in the office with Barby for two years, said. "I didn't know a person could be so good. To have the heart that she had, and the love of God and others that she had - I don't know how that's possible."

Two people sharing a life

Barby, who died Aug. 11 at the age of 66 after a two-year journey with cancer, worked along side her husband Dwight, campus minister, since the day they were married in 1958. They had three children, Tanya, Chuck, and Dirk. Besides having a family together, they also worked together with churches in the Northeast for 22 years. Since 1981, the Smiths worked with the College church and its Campus Ministry and International Campaigns programs. For 14 of those years they traveled to Scotland together a campaign leaders.

"She was my teammate ever since we first got married," Dwight said. "She was my right arm. We never perceived that as being anything different, spectacular, unusual...we were a team."

Hancock said the Smiths' marriage made a difference in how she has developed her own relationship values.

Senior Hunter Valls, the Smiths' oldest grandchild, agreed and said their desire to be together stamped marks of unselfishness on both Dwight and Barby's lives.

Although Dwight and Barby never understood the uniqueness of their relationship, those who knew the couple said their marriage was different.

"By the world's standards their marriage was different," Angela English, administrative assistant in the Campus Ministry office, said, "However, they had a pattern of marriage like marriage should be. There was nobody else before the other except for God in their lives and you could see that."

While Dwight in mourning the loss of his wife, he said that it was God's plan for him to stay here and continue God's work. He does plan to return to Scotland for mission work in the near future.

"[I'm] aware that I have lost something for a short while that was really important to me," Dwight said. "but God has other plans for me, maybe it's to meet other people that I haven't met yet."

Leaving a legacy

Those who knew Barby best while she was alive said her legacy will leave a lasting signature on those she came in contact with.

"Going through this whole thing with her sickness and death was hard, but at the same time it was the most beautiful thing I ever witnessd," Valls said. "[I saw] the legacy she left of her spirituality."

Valls said his grandmother was one of a kind. "I have never witnessed the same type of legacy that she left with her family and with thousands of people all over the world that she came in contact with."

Remembering his childhood days at his grandmother's house, Valls said he recalls spending the night at Dwight and Barby's house every now and then and waking up early to soak in Barby's committed habit of reading the Bible.

"Every morning of her life, as far as I know, she would get up at 5 a.m., and she would read her bible for a long time," Valls said. "She wouldn't just read through. She would study and pour over it and pray. Sometimes, if you got up early enough, you could catch her doing it."

Those study habits paid off because almost every conversation she had centered on God's word, Hancock said.

"You knew Jesus was in her," Hancock said. "Every conversation she had included God. It wasn't like she was trying to, that's all that consumed her. That's all that was in her life - her relationship with Jesus Christ. When something is inside ofyou like that, you don't have to think about it. That's just how she was."

English said that those conversations about Jesus that Barby had with people were for one reason. "Barby didn't see people," she said. "Barby saw souls."

Going home

Throughout her illness, English said Barby was always ready for the end.

"Around May when she started having more bad days than good, she sat down with me and said, 'I just wish I could go ahead and go home and let Dwight go to Scotland this summer because I'm ready," English said. "Barby said, "This is what I've worked for my whole life."

English said Barby took advantage of knowing her time was going to be up soon.

"She lived such an incredible, dedicated, humble servant life before, but she just thought of [her illness] as an advantage," she said. "Barby said ,'I'm going to live the best I can and reach as many people and love on as many people as I can with what time I have left.' And that's what she did every day."

Although the loss of Barby was painful for her friends and family, Valls said the victory was his grandmother's.

"I'm going to miss her because she was the greatest grandmother anyone could have ever had, but at the same time I couldn't be happier because she's done," Valls said. "She has finished her work."

- Renee Lewis, Searcy

Note: This article originally appeared in The Bison,Harding University's student newspaper, on sept. 10, 2004. Used by permission.

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"I'm so glad you came"

As I came near the bed, the ashen-colored skeleton of a frail body lay still against the white sheets behind her. This lifeless form had only weeks before been a vibrant, eager servant of God, working with students to help them prepare for international campaigns and sharing her faith with all who encountered her. Only months before, she responded to the news that she had cancer with, "Well, I've never been called on the bring glory to God through cancer before."

I bent down near her ear and said, "My dear special friend, Barby, it's Kay and I want to remind you how much I love you and how grateful I am for all you have meant to my life." Before I could complete the expression of my thoughts, I was surprised to feel her hand clasp mine and to se her eyes open and turn to look into mine. Then she said, "I'm so glad you came." "I'm so glad you came." "I'm so glad you came."

I walked away, passing her son who was seated at the computer near her bed. Her eyes followed my form until I patted his shoulder and he reached to hug me. He caught her eye and said, "Hi, sweet Momma," and I continued my exit.

Barby Smith was one of my heroes. She was a mentor, co-teacher, friend, prayer warrior, and encourager to me. She loved me with the love of the Lord, and she inspired me to an even greater hunger and thirst for Him. And in the early afternoon that Tuesday, I was the one who was so glad that I came.

The next morning at about 11 o'clock, Barby died. Surrounded by her precious family as they sang and shared there stories, she took her final breath on this earth and begain her journey beyond the river.

I can only imagine, but I suspect that I know what her Father's first words were as she walked to the other side. With arms wide open and a smile on His face, I can imagine Him saying, "I'm so gland you came."

- Kay Gowen, Searcy

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Most Loved Lady
in the College Church

In a conversation that I had with Barby after she was dealing with the cancer, I told her, "Without a doubt in my mind, you are the most loved Lady in the college church". I told my wife, Charlotte, what I had said to Barby after I got home. She whole-heartedly agreed. What a great legacy to leave her family.

- Orvis Pigg, Searcy