Obituary of Barbara Cordell

Barbara Donna Cordell Known to everyone as Babs, Ms. Cordell completed this life on September 11, 2010. Born on January 13, 1953 in Hickory, North Carolina, she obtained a BS from Western Carolina University and a MS from Appalachian State University. Both degrees were in Art Education. She was an artist and art educator. She taught at F.T. Foard High School in Newton, N.C. and Randolph Middle School and Waddell High School, both in Charlotte. She was selected for a Fulbright Teacher Exchange and taught a year in East Grindstead, England. Ms. Cordell exhibited her artwork in galleries and won awards for both her art and teaching. Her artistic focus was lithography, drawing and pottery. Babs loved to travel, visited over 30 countries and had the privilege to work with Mother Teresa at The Mother House in Calcutta, India. Babs was selflessly dedicated to the well-being of her family, caring for her father throughout his long illness and she was deeply devoted to co-parenting her beloved nephew Mateo. For everyone around her, it was evident she possessed a keen ability to see into the hearts and needs of others. Babs loved hiking in the mountains of North Carolina, impressionistic paintings, batiking in Java, Indonesia and butterfly kisses from Mateo. Calm, practical, observant, sensitive, inspiring and creative. All these words and more capture the spirit of Babs Cordell. She will be profoundly missed. She is survived by her mother Thelma Cordell, sisters Pam and Deborah Cordell, nephew Mateo Cordell as well as many extended family members and devoted friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Bill Cordell. A service to celebrate her life will be held at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at First Baptist Church. The family will receive friends following the service in the church parlor. Memorials may be made to Congregational Health at First Baptist Church, 301 South Davidson St., Charlotte, NC 28202-2821