Barbara Reynolds Kennedy

June 4, 2023

CHARLOTTE – Barbara Elaine Reynolds Kennedy, devoted wife, loving mother, adoring grand and great-grandmother went to heaven at the age of eighty-one on Sunday, June 4, 2023. The eldest daughter of Lelia Jane Hough Reynolds and Floyd Albert Reynolds, her uplifting spirit is remembered by her husband, three children, seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and her sister along with innumerable others. A firm believer of John 3:16, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and is now at rest in his arms.

Born on December 14, 1941, Barbara grew up in Charlotte where she attended Central High School.  She often recalled visiting the home of her paternal grandmother, Victoria Marley, where a love for gardening and flowers was nurtured.  Always thoughtful, Barbara would frequently pick up gifts, put together goody baskets, and send cards in the mail to her friends, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Barbara married Jim Kennedy on February 2, 1959.  She could make any occasion festive and especially took joy in hosting holiday parties.  Particularly well-known were the Barbie doll cakes that she baked for her granddaughters and great-granddaughters.  Her secret ingredient? An extra dash of love.  As a thirty-five-year member at Forest Hill, she served as president for Women of the Church before attending services at Good Shepherd Presbyterian for another twenty-five years.   She was awarded lifetime membership in the Presbyterian Women with her name recorded in the women’s history at Montreat.

Celebrating her exuberant life are her husband, James “Jim” Kennedy; son, James Johnson Kennedy III and his wife, Janet of Naples, FL; daughter, Betty Elaine Kennedy Craven and her husband, Murray B. Craven III, M.D. of Charlotte, NC; daughter, Allison Elizabeth Kennedy Williams and her husband, Billy of Lexington, SC; grandchildren, Michael Kennedy, Elaine Christine Craven Widman and her husband, Christopher, Baxter Craven, James Craven and his wife, Kristina, Daniel Craven, April Ferrone, John Ferrone; great-grandchildren, Charlotte Elaine Widman, Grant Widman, Aidan Widman, Carter Widman, Kennedy Craven, Theodore Craven, Mallory Frye, Thomas Ferrone, and Jackson Ferrone.  Also surviving are her sister, Gwendolyn Hoover and her husband, Harry; her step-grandchildren, Wes Williams, Lane Williams Procter and her husband, Logan, Macy Adelyn Williams, and step great-grandchild, Copeland Proctor.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, June 12, 2023, at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, 3307 Rea Road, Charlotte, NC.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.  Interment will follow at Sharon Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be offered in memory of Barbara to The Gideon International, 2400 Crownpoint Executive Drive, #500, Charlotte, NC 28227 (https://gideons.org/donate) or Samaritans Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 (https://www.samaritanspurse.org/).

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.

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  • Christian Collins, Sr.

    I am saddened more than words can express that our lifelong dear friend Barbara has left us. She was always a treasure, kind, sweet, fun. My prayers and love for Jim and each of her family, including sister Gwen.

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  • MaryAnn Ogles

    Barbara was a sweet client of mine for over 50 years. I saw her every Thursday morning. She would be with me,for a hour or two. She would talk about her children when they were little, on up.As adults,it never stopped. Then all the grandchildren, when they were born, school, college, and some married and having babies. I know about your beachtrips,breakfast in the morning there. Her Halloween tablecloth and decorations. Christmas and allll the many gifts she wrap. Barbara's cakes and cakes She made. Her cooking,and what you asked for. Her Redhats group, she went with Gwen. Teaching line dancing and all the outfits that go with country. The reunions, you all went to. Her beloved teas, she adored. Fixing Jim's snack in the afternoon. She loved her church, her family,books, cooking,talking on the phone, getting icecream. I really could go on and on. She loved to visit, when she came to salon, to be pampered. She was gentle, a lady, a giver, SHE WAS BARBARA.

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