Dorothy Mae Barbour, age 96, of Farmingdale, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on November 18, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. Born June 29, 1928, as friends and family called her, Dot was the third child of the late Milton and Viola Lee. Raised in Freehold, NJ, she attended Court Street School in her early years; she then attended Bordentown School, formerly known as the New Jersey Industrial and Manual Training School for Colored Youth, where she excelled academically. After graduating from Bordentown, she owned and operated a hair salon in Freehold with her sisters, Alma and Ruth. She met and married the late Walter Barbour and was blessed with four children. In the late 1960s, she began working for MCAP (Monmouth County Action Program), where she worked as a housing counselor with HUD until her retirement. Dot, in 1990, attended and graduated from Monmouth Bible Institute, 3rd in her class.
Dot was an active member of Bethany Baptist Church, Farmingdale, where she taught Sunday School, was a member of Pastor’s Aide, and served on the Hospitality committee. During COVID-19, she started watching Pilgrim Baptist Church services remotely and was a faithful participant until her death. She enjoyed the service and felt that Pilgrim was her second church family. In her later years, she enjoyed reading the Bible, doing crossword puzzles, watching Jeopardy, watching old Westerns, especially Gun Smoke, and spending time with her family. She loved to laugh and had a great sense of humor. Dot was an exemplary mother figure and human being. She embodied the best qualities: unconditional love, strength of spirit, and unending generosity, which is evident in her care for her family and friends. She will be truly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Dot was predeceased by her parents, Milton and Viola Lee; Sister Alma Deveaux, Brother John Lee; Nephews Gregory Deveaux, Richard Henderson & Kevin Henderson.
Dot is survived by her sister, Ruth (Rudy) Henderson, Red Bank, and sister-law Ruth Johnson, Neptune. She leaves to mourn her four children: Walter “Eric” Barbour, Freehold, Michael Barbour (Virginia), Farmingdale, Terri Dean (Tommy), Neptune, and Bruce Barbour, Pennsylvania. She was blessed with nine grandchildren: Darel, Shannel, Eric Junior, Michael Junior, Ashley, Jeanel, Christopher, Yaneice, and Khalia, and ten great-grandchildren. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews that she loved dearly.
