Marie Elizabeth Baker Barber, 94, of West Berrien, died Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at Colquitt Regional Medical Center in Moultrie. Her passing was caused by complications from lymphoma.

She was born September 28, 1931, at home in Berrien County to the late John William Baker Sr. and Carrie Elizabeth Weaver Baker. Known for her sharp memory, she loved reminiscing about her childhood and taking strolls down memory lane. One of her fondest memories was a rare sighting of the Northern Lights on September 25, 1941.

"It felt like the sky was on fire," Marie recalled. "We had never seen anything like it before and were scared to death."

Marie married Elmo Earnest Barber on a hot Sunday morning, June 24, 1951, at her parent's home in the West Berrien community. The decorations included tulips and other bulb flowers planted in a nearby field by German prisoners of war during World War II. The groom was late, having to travel to Irwin County to pick up the preacher, and Marie said she was "sweated down" by the time the service started.

Marie and Elmo were married for 39 years before his death on April 14, 1991.

Marie attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton and South Georgia College in Douglas before graduating from Valdosta State College with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education. She taught school for more than 30 years, mostly at West Berrien Elementary School, but also in Lowndes, Tift and Atkinson counties. Her students included her only son, grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was famous for her chocolate pies, her appetite for conversation, her sunny disposition and a fierce love for her family. Life may have not always been easy but she lived it with a steadfast joy that came from her deep faith in Christ. She was a longtime member of Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church and also attended Grace Baptist Church in Adel and Zion Hope Baptist Church in Tifton at various times. She also lived two amazing years at Legacy Village in Tifton before returning to live at her home in West Berrien in the past year.

Marie was preceded in death by her daughter, Anelda Caye Barber Robinson, on October 4, 2020, and her younger siblings, John W. Baker Jr., Anelda Baker Griner, Joseph Allison "Bug" Baker, and an infant brother.

She is survived by her son, Jim Barber (Becky) of Lilburn, Georgia; son-in-law Charles Robinson of Nashville; grandchildren Lori Robinson Horne (Rebecca) of Nashville, Jeff Robinson (Misty) of Ray City, Lisa Robinson Phillips (Will) of Moultrie, Dana Barber Powell (Eric) of Lilburn, Tyler Barber Garcia (Edgar) of Newnan, Georgia, and Carrie Barber Borkhuis (Robert) of Huntsville, Alabama; great-grandchildren Hunter Luke (Anna), Abigail Luke, Michael Horne, Noah Garcia, Natalie Johnson-Scott (Sean), Kaden Paul, and Hayden Phillips; and great-great-grandchildren, Thomas Luke, Nora Plymel and Arilynn Scott. She is also survived by a special niece, Sharon Barber Webb, who was her caretaker for the last year of her life.

A celebration of life will be held Friday, January 23, 2026, at Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church. The family will receive visitors starting at 2 p.m., with the service to begin at 3 p.m. Interment will follow at the Vickers cemetery, where her husband is buried. Brad Baker, her long-time pastor, will preside over the services, and will be accompanied by his wife, Brandi, for the musical selections.

The pallbearers will be her grandson, Jeff Robinson, great-grandsons Hunter Luke and Michael Horne, and grand-sons-in-law  Edgar Garcia, Will Phillips and Eric Powell.

Honorary pallbearers will be her living nephews, Mike Baker, Mike Barber, Billy Barber, Roger Barber, Greg Griner, Don Griner and Chipp Griner.

For those who would like to remember Marie, flowers are appreciated or you may make a donation to Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church or Zion Hope Baptist Church in Tifton.