Barbara Bussey

WILSON - Barbara Johnson Bussey, 90, of Wilson died at home on October 5, 2015. She was born on April 12, 1925 in Batavia, New York, to the late Henry LeVere Johnson and Helen Mullen Johnson. In her youth, her father, who was a three sport letterman at Cornell University, moved the family to Florence, SC, to become the director of the YMCA.

Barbara and William R. Bussey were married in Florence, South Carolina, on August 14, 1947. Barbara and Bill then moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where Bill attended the seminary. Barbara served as the nurse for the seminary.
After seminary days, Barbara retired from professional nursing to devote her full love and support to her family, to her church family, and to the larger communities in which her husband served as pastor. After serving as the pastor at First Baptist in Chester, South Carolina, Bill served as the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Wilson, North Carolina, and in retirement, at the Stanhope Baptist Church in Nash County, North Carolina. Barbara played an important part in the congregations of each of these churches. In fact, Bill half-jokes that when the Chester pulpit committee recruited him, it acknowledged that Barbara was the main attraction.

Barbara was a beautiful, sweet, and giving person. She never said an unkind word about anyone. A soft-spoken person by nature, she never raised her voice.

She loved her family. She rarely missed her children's or grandchildren's games of soccer, football, basketball, track, baseball, or tennis. She always sat in a folding chair with her knitting. She also loved her extended family - her brothers, her nieces, her nephew, her cousins, and all of their spouses, many of whom call Orangeburg, SC, home, and they all loved "Aunt Barbara".

A few days before her death, one of her grandchildren wrote, echoing the love for her felt by all, "You leave a legacy of joy and service. Your legacy is family and faith. Your legacy is love. These are things that endure. My beloved grandmother, might I also pursue a legacy that will endure. I will have you to thank. You are so very close to hearing the voice of Love whisper, 'Well done, daughter of mine."

Barbara is survived by her husband, Reverend William R. Bussey; daughters Susan Bussey Toms (husband, Tommy), Sally Bussey Plyler (husband, William), Marcia Bussey Eatmon (husband, Edward); grandchildren Heidi Toms Tucker (husband, David), Justin Toms (wife, Pauline), William Toms, Settle Plyler Monroe (husband, Jeff), Will Plyler, B.B. Plyler, Sharon Eatmon Mattheisen (husband, Jake), Eddie Eatmon (wife, Ashley); and great-grandchildren Davis Tucker, Jackson Tucker, Jack Monroe, Duncan Monroe, Finn Mattheisen, Owen Mattheisen, and Kori Eatmon.

She was predeceased by her parents; by her brothers, Dr. James Johnson, and David Johnson; and by her great-grandson, Webb Monroe.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, October 9, at First Baptist Church, 311 Nash Street NW, Wilson, NC 27893, with Rev. Doug Murray presiding. Visitation will follow in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to First Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 1467, Wilson, NC 27894-1467.