Barbara Speight Conder, 89, of Charlotte, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. She was a loving, devoted, and vivacious wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to all.
Barbara was born in Roanoke Rapids to the late Howard B. and Erma C. Speight. She attended East Carolina University where she met her husband, former senator James Richard Conder (deceased) of 64 wonderful years. She was a cheerleader for the Pirates, and he was an offensive lineman for the football team. Their love for East Carolina, and Pirate football, was shared throughout their marriage.
Barbara and Richard made Rockingham their home and they began and raised their extraordinary family there. Although Rockingham will always be their home, they moved to Charlotte in 2013 where they were active residents of The Cypress of Charlotte and members of Sardis Presbyterian Church.
Education was Barbara’s passion. After obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from East Carolina University and her Master’s Degree from Appalachian State University, she taught in various schools throughout North Carolina and co-founded the Kiddie Academy Kindergarten in Rockingham. Barbara retired in 1997 as dean of Literacy at Richmond Community College. During her 22 years at RCC, she was devoted to serving adults who wished to obtain their high school diploma. Under her leadership, the RCC Literacy Program ranked third of 58 community colleges statewide. When she was not on the RCC campus, she could be found in churches and prisons leading educational programs and graduations for her students.
The church and the church family were an integral part of Barbara’s life. In Rockingham, she was a devoted steward of First Presbyterian Church, where she served as a deacon, elder, and active member of the handbell ensemble.
She was an avid naturalist who loved nurturing her garden, shelling at the beach on cloudy days, mixing watercolors for an inspired painting, and teaching anyone who would listen about the native birds, flowering plants, and constellations above. She was always learning, but she loved sharing her knowledge and life lessons with those she loved even more.
Her legacy is impossible to put into words, but her dynamic and infectious light was evident in everything she touched. She was a committed Christian, gifted artist, impeccable crossworder, talented pianist, natural athlete, sneaky comedian, charismatic storyteller, dependable chef, consignment extraordinaire, convincing politician, excitable party host, kind friend, and incredible role model. To know her was to love her — it was just that simple.
Barbara is survived by her children, Rebecca Conder Hunter of Charlotte, Elizabeth Conder of Naples, Florida, and James Richard Conder Jr. and his wife Dawn of Naples, Florida; and grandchildren, Meredith Hunter Thompson and her wife Maddy, Charles Hunter and his fiancée Elizabeth, Amelia Conder and Brady Conder.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at 1 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Rockingham, followed by a visitation in the fellowship hall. A graveside service will follow at 3:30 p.m. at Richmond County Memorial Park, 1717 E Broad Ave., Rockingham.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests that those wishing to make a contribution in Barbara’s memory consider making a gift to the James Richard & Barbara S. Conder Endowed Basic Skills Graduate Scholarship at Richmond Community College. Donation details can be found at the following link: https://square.link/u/2jl8WvyM
Online condolences can be made at watson-kingfuneralhome.com. Watson-King Funeral Home in Rockingham is honored to assist the Conder family in their time of grief.
