Barbara Poole West

Mrs. Barbara Poole West, of Sandersville, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Friday, March 31, 2023. Funeral services celebrating the life of Mrs. West will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, April 3, 2023, at First Baptist Church of Sandersville, with burial to follow in Brownwood Cemetery. Reverend Lee Lacey will officiate. Pallbearers will include Jamie Dickey, Ty Dickey, Whit Frost, Jared Jackson, Mitch Sheppard, Trey Sheppard, and Trey Stewart. Honorary pallbearers will include John Dickey, David Frost, Terry Jackson, Cliff Sheppard, and Larry Smith. The family will receive friends on Sunday, April 2, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at May and Smith Funeral Home in Sandersville.

Barbara Poole West was born April 12, 1952 and was raised in Sparta, Georgia.  She was the daughter of the late Herbert Radcliff Poole and the late Ruby Askew Poole. She had many fond memories from her childhood and cherished the friends and family in that wonderful community. Barbara received both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s in education from the University of Georgia, where she was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority.

While at UGA, Barbara met the love of her life, Mark West. They married in 1977, making their home in Sandersville, where she was an inspiration to her family and friends. Prior to raising their family, Barbara taught kindergarten and first grade in Oglethorpe and Washington Counties. In 1983, Barbara began working at West Drug Company and loved working at the family pharmacy for over 35 years. She greeted all customers and friends with her radiant smile and warm hospitality.  Barbara found the greatest joy in doing for others and was the epitome of Southern hospitality. Her grace and eternal optimism will forever guide our hearts.

Barbara was a faithful member of Sandersville First Baptist Church and treasured time spent with her Sunday School class and helping in the church nursery for many years.  She served as a member and former president of the Guild of Washington County, and over the years served on numerous other committees and community projects. Her natural beauty and grace were apparent in her sparkling smile and in the effortless way she made friends with all who met her.

Barbara treasured time spent with her family at St. Simons Island. She energetically looked forward to Fall Saturdays in Athens, cheering on the University of Georgia Bulldogs for over sixty years. Nothing brought Barbara greater joy than being a mother to Nancy and Tripp as well as time spent with her four beloved grandsons.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. West is preceded in death by her sister, Patricia Poole Harp. Survivors left behind to cherish her memory are her husband of 45 years, Mark West, Jr.; daughter, Nancy West Hortman and her husband Robert, of Rome; son, Tripp West and his wife Blakely, of Watkinsville; beloved grandsons, West and Wills Hortman, Bennett and Reynolds West; brother-in-law, Bob West and his wife Connie; and three nieces, Laura W. Kitchens, Holly W. Grossman, and Sholar McElroy.

The family requests that memorials be made to First Baptist Church of Sandersville, 316 Mathis Circle, Sandersville, GA, 31082, Brentwood School, P.O Box 955, Sandersville, GA, 31082, or The Pam Stewart Cancer Foundation, 511 Lee Street, Sandersville, GA 31082.

May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements. Condolences may be made online at www.mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com