Barbara Jones Cato (aka, Mama, Grammie, Gigi and Bobbie) passed away quietly at Hospice Haven on the morning of Jan. 13, 2024, after a very sudden decline in her health.
Barbara was born on May 27, 1947, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. She was the daughter of L.D. Jones Sr. and Annie Hobbs Jones.
She grew up in Southern Pines, along with her three brothers, L.D., Charles and Jimmy, and special cousin Mike Hobbs. After graduating from high school, Barbara attended Sandhills Community College before marrying Hobby Cato of Hamlet. Hobby and Barbara moved to England with his military service, where they welcomed their first child, Annette. When they left England, they returned to Hamlet, where they made their permanent home and welcomed their second child, Jimmy. Barbara remained a resident of Hamlet until her death.
She was always very involved with her children and their school activities. Barbara’s family meant everything to her. She devoted her life to being their mom, “Grammie” and “Gigi.” She shared her love for them freely. She loved their meals and their holidays together, especially Christmas. Barbara’s love for Christmas is renowned. She kept everyone well informed about how many days it is until Christmas. One of Barbara’s greatest joys was her granddaughters, Katie, Erin and Natalie. She loved spending time with them doing anything and everything. She started a tradition of making cookies with them every year at Christmas, which has continued throughout the years. They made cupcakes and dyed eggs every year at Easter. She has attended their every dance recital, every ballgame, and every school function. They shared extended UNO games, trips to Bojangles, and many coffee dates. She has loved all of them fiercely and unconditionally.
She was a very active and faithful member of the First United Methodist Church of Hamlet. During her years of employment, she worked in several positions, but the one that brought her the most joy was as a teacher’s assistant at Fairview Heights School. She loved the opportunity of working with the children. She always sought to make the lives of each child better regardless of their circumstances. She saved milk from the lunchroom and brought snacks for her classroom for those that didn’t have the money for snacks. She secured coats for kids that were cold. She became involved with kids caught in domestic situations. She was never afraid to step forward if it made their lives better. She also freely shared her love of Christmas and snowmen with them. Many of the children thought that “Frosty” was her boyfriend! Barbara’s time at Fairview was cut short because of her breast cancer diagnosis. She retired and went on to serve others, but always missed her Fairview children.
During the later years of her life, Barbara worked diligently as a volunteer at the Hamlet Soup Kitchen. She prepared and served meals, brought clothes, bought medicine, transported, prayed with, and most importantly, loved those that many saw as unlovable. Barbara always referred to the clients as “her people,” and she served them as such. She later became a board member of the Richmond County Mental Health Association that administers the Soup Kitchen. She worked diligently to make sure that this program served those in need within our community in every way possible.
Barbara brought so much laughter to those around her, especially her friends. She shared herself freely with them and their families, especially her “BFF”, Abbie Covington and her family, Jim, Jill, Shannon, Rick, MaKayla and Ava. She traveled, laughed, and loved with all of them throughout the years, bringing many hours of joy to their lives. Once, while traveling in France with Abbie and her husband Jim, she confronted a waiter about why they didn’t have French vanilla creamer for her coffee. When the waiter said that they didn’t have it, she remarked to the waiter, “Well, why not? It’s France, isn’t it?” She also asked a local shop owner in Santorini, Greece, about how they celebrated the Fourth of July. There was never a dull moment when Barbara was along. Her presence always brought loads of laughter and fun, and will be greatly missed by all of us.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Charles and Jimmy; and son-in-law, Jim Smart.
She is survived by her children, Jimmy Cato (Stephanie), Trevie Annette Smart; granddaughters, Katie, Erin, and Natalie; also, a brother, L.D. Jones of Fayetteville; a cousin, Mike Hobbs of Southern Pines; along with niece, Beth, and nephew, Danny Jones, and special niece, Tracey Casey (Timmy) of New Bern; and dearest friend, “sister she never had”, traveling buddy, and ‘partner in crime’ Abbie Covington, and Abbie’s husband, Jim; as well as Hobby Cato.
A service to celebrate Barbara’s life will be Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024 at 4 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Hamlet with the Rev. Dan Blair and Dr. Allison Farrah officiating. The family will receive friends from 2-3:45 p.m. prior to the service at the church.
Memorials may be made to the Hamlet Soup Kitchen/Richmond County Mental Health Association, P.O. Box 1103 Rockingham, NC 28380; or First United Methodist Church, 300 Charlotte St. Hamlet, NC 28345; or Richmond Co. Hospice, 1119 US Hwy. 1 N Rockingham, NC 28379.
Online condolences may be made at watson-kingfuneralhome.com. Watson-King Funeral Home in Hamlet is serving the Cato family.
