Nora Louisa (Wilkins) Barden

BARDEN, Nora Louisa Wilkins, 89, of Amelia, Virginia, passed away on January 14, 2022. Nora was born in Moseley, Chesterfield County, Virginia, on April 18, 1932, to the late William Fitcher Wilkins and Lena Desmond Bray Wilkins. The family moved to Amelia in 1937 and Nora lived there until her death. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leon Homer Barden, whom she married on July 15, 1950. Nora was also preceded in death by her brothers, Glenn Wilkins and Wellons Wilkins; her sister, Iris Marie Wilkins; and her granddaughter, Grayson Taylor Barden. She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Leigh Barden Garber and her husband, Michael Allmond Garber of Midlothian; her son, James Alan Barden and his wife, Linda Marie Wilson Barden of Powhatan; grandchildren, Kimberly Angeline Kantzler Martin of Midlothian; Jason Michael Garber and his wife, Samara Elizabeth Strauss of Arlington; Heather Nicole Garber Brinkley and her husband, Phillip Carter Brinkley of Midlothian; Alida Bray Barden of Los Angeles, California; and Marin Blythe Barden of Richmond; great-grandchildren, Bayleigh Grace Martin, Logan Carter Brinkley, Alexa Nicole Brinkley, Nolan Allmond Brinkley, and Lila June Garber; sisters, Alice Noxon of Chesterfield and Audrey Kanney of Greenville; and sister-in-law, Betty Raye Wilkins of Richmond..

Nora loved the Lord Jesus Christ and accepted Him as her Savior. She publicly committed her life to Him in baptism in August 1950 and joined Arbor Baptist Church. She taught the Youth class for many years and organized the first youth group sponsored by the Church. A great fan of Southern Gospel music, she and her husband attended many concerts at Watermelon Park in the Shenandoah Valley.

Nora lived a very active life working in a number of places in Amelia and retired from the County of Amelia as an Administrative Secretary. She was a member of the Amelia County Historical Society where she served for a number of years as treasurer and was an associate editor of the book Cemetery Records of Amelia County, Virginia. She was also a past member of the Genealogical Research Institute of Virginia.

Nora is also survived by a favorite cousin, Jacqueline Hudson of Colonial Heights, with whom she worked on family history research. Her research took her to many places where her ancestors had lived. She assembled volumes of family records that she researched hoping her efforts will be useful to younger family members who may choose to continue this legacy.

Our sincerest thanks to the compassionate caregivers at Clifton House in Amelia where Nora resided for the last fifteen months.

Nora will lie in state at the Hillsman-Hix Funeral Home in Amelia, on Tuesday January 18, 2022 from 2:00-5:00 pm. Due to the Covid pandemic, only immediate family will attend the funeral in person. Please wear a mask for everyone’s safety. Interment will be in the Virginia Veterans Cemetery, Amelia.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Amelia County Historical Society, PO Box 113, Amelia, VA 23002.

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