Barbara Mitchell Head

Mrs. Barbara (Mitchell) Head, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, at the CarePartners Hospice Solace Center, in Asheville, North Carolina. She was the daughter of the late Quinton and Bernice Kuhse Mitchell. Barbara was born on October 06, 1950 in Seaside Memorial Hospital, City of Long Beach (Los Angeles County), California.

Barbara attended Grace Community Church, in Marion, North Carolina. Although her undergraduate college majors were mathematics and business finance, her real passion (and gift) was teaching, teaching the fundamental basics of mathematics to junior high students. For twelve years, from 2003 till her battle with liver cancer forced her to retire in 2015, she taught seventh grade Pre-Algebra at the Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy in Avondale, Rutherford County. In October 2015 she was recognized for her excellence in teaching. At the ceremony TJCA Headmaster Joseph Maimone said of Barbara, “Her math growth scores have been some of the strongest across the state and certainly at our school. Year after year, she has had extraordinary growth in the scores. They are off the top.” Prior to living in Marion, Barbara worked as an accountant in the finance department of Samaritan’s Purse in Boone, North Carolina from the summer of 1996 to December 1998.

Barbara loved being outdoors. She loved hiking, tent camping, canoeing and especially being at the beach. She also enjoyed landscape gardening and working on improving the old farmhouse her family lived in. She had a tender heart for animals in need, and for years faithfully ministered to an elderly widow across the street from her home.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 43 years, Joseph A. Head, her daughter Sara Head and her brother Roger Mitchell (Kathy) of Mission Viejo, Orange County, California.

A celebration of Barbara’s life will be held Saturday July 24th 3pm at the Grace Community Church in Marion, North Carolina. Visitation from 1-3pm. Given Barbara’s love of teaching, in lieu of flowers, friends may like to make to consider a donation to Grace Community Church earmarked for their newly established pre-school.