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FRANKLIN – Barbara Jean Ashby Prince, 93, widow of Carl W. Prince Jr., passed away on Jan. 24, 2024. Born on Dec. 22, 1930, Barbara was the daughter of the late George Robert Ashby and Nellie Stancell Ashby. She was also predeceased by her two siblings, Jeanette A. Taylor and George R. “Bill” Ashby Jr. Barbara was born in Richmond, Virginia and raised there as well as Triangle, Virginia. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond and attended MCV School of Nursing until she met and married the love of her life, Carl, in 1952 and moved to Sussex Courthouse.

Barbara was a homemaker, talented beyond measure. She mastered every needlecraft imaginable; was an excellent cook; enjoyed reading, travelling and painting and mostly gardening and flower arranging. She studied with the Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs to become a Master Flower Show Judge. Barbara loved digging in the dirt to plant another shrub or flower to use in arrangements and had been active in several garden clubs.

Mrs. Prince was a devoted caregiver to her husband during his long illness until his death in 1994. They enjoyed 42 years of marriage. Barbara is survived by one daughter, Jeanne P. Emmerson and her husband, Richard. She was “Ba” to her two loving grandchildren, Carly Jane Emmerson (Thomas Hite) and Hunt Emmerson (Priscilla) and her two precious great-grandchildren, Briggs Ashby Harrell and Rhett Emmerson. She was also “Aunt Bobbie” to several nieces and nephews, one devoted, Leslie Lee Kellenberger. The family wishes to thank the caregivers of The Village at Woods Edge, East Pavilion and Gentiva Hospice for their help in her later years of life, as she made the move to Franklin, Virginia. Barbara tried to remain as independent as possible, despite her challenges with loss of sight.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 30 at High Street United Methodist Church, 31164 Camp Parkway in Courtland. A brief reception will follow in the church fellowship hall, to be followed by a burial service at Readville Baptist Church, 20158 Courthouse Road, Stony Creek, Virginia.

Flowers are welcome or memorial donations can be made to her church, High Street United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 218, Franklin, Virginia 23851 or online to American Macular Degeneration Foundation, in the hopes of finding a cure for this blinding disease. The family has entrusted final arrangements to R.W. Baker and Company in Wakefield. Condolences may be registered at RWBakerFH.com.