Sally Joan Barfield, 86, from Lakeland, Florida, passed away on February 09, 2023.
Joan was born in Lakeland to Cecil and Alma Bowen.
She was a member of New Home Baptist Church in Lakeland where where she was head of Mission Under the Tree, a charity that she was in charge of from it's inception. Joan ran the church kitchen and often prepared meals to feed hundreds of members at a time. She had a gift when it came to knowing precisely how much was needed to have enough food whether for ten or 200. She leaves very big shoes to fill and it's an honor to those following in her footsteps.
Joan was an award winning cake connoisseur, working as a very renowned baker and decorator. She created glorious wedding cakes for generations of brides. She taught many cake decorating classes and was passing on her talent well into her 80's. In addition to running her church kitchen, teaching classes, baking and decorating cakes for all occasions, and heading up a charity, she was chairperson for the Strawberry Festival in Plant City. She was a phenomenal Southern cook. Her knack for feeding multitudes served her family well when the holidays came around. Family meant everything to her and she loved to host Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. Joan was a nurturing woman. She was the caregiver for family whenever they became ill or needed care after a surgery. Joan was a remarkable woman who leaves a gaping void in the lives of those who knew her. She will be greatly missed.
Joan was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 49 years, Charles Fred Barfield Jr, her grandson, Joshua Blasingame, her parents, and her four sisters. She leaves behind her children, Joy Elaine (Tommy) Spaulding, Tony Barfield, Susan Marie Alderman, Richard (Barbra) Barfield and chosen children, Johnnie Chester McClelland Jr. and his wife Carol. Joan is also survived by her grandchildren, Sarah Paul, Kristen Smith, Tiah Sweet, Jesse Alderman, Richard Barfield Jr., Kimmie Weaver, Brooke Lanham, sixteen great-grandchildren, three sisters, one brother and many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends will be received for a visitation Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at 10:00 am to 11:30 am. at New Home Baptist Church, 901 N Galloway Rd, Lakeland, FL 33810. A funeral service will follow at 11:30. Burial will follow at New Home Baptist Church Cemetery.
Online condolences can be made at www.lanier.care.
Funeral arrangements were trusted to Lanier Funeral and Cremation Services, 717 Griffin Road Lakeland, FL 33805, (863) 687-3996.
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