Barbara Crooke

Barbara Elizabeth (nee Carey) Crooke of Nashville, a beloved wife and mother, passed away on March 29, 2023 at Brookdale Belle Meade, surrounded by family.  She was 77.

Barbara is survived by her husband, Philip Crooke of Nashville; her son, Philip Alexander Crooke (married to Christi Braun) of Nashville, and daughter, Cornelia Crooke of Nashville; sisters Linda Carey and Susan Bakhru of Silver Spring, MD; and brother Lenford Carey of University Park, MD.

Barbara was born in October 1945 on a farm in rural upstate New York and raised in Gilbertsville, a small town near Cooperstown in New York's "leatherstocking country." She kept 4-H chickens, played trombone in the school band, and graduated in a class of 13 from the local public school. Barbara became the first in her family to go on to college, attending the State University of New York at Cortland. While there, she met her future husband, Philip, who was a graduate student at nearby Cornell. After graduating in 1967 with a degree in Elementary Education, Barbara taught elementary school in Greece, NY.  She and Philip married in August 1968. As they made their home in Ithaca, NY while Philip finished his Ph.D. studies, she continued to teach elementary school at nearby Trumansburg, NY. In 1970, when Philip completed his degree and had accepted a faculty position at Vanderbilt University, the couple moved to Nashville where their children were subsequently born and raised. Her greatest joy was her family. Barbara was a smart shopper and had a sharp eye for thrift shop treasures. Barbara loved to cook. Her family always enjoyed her holiday dinners, and she was especially accomplished at making bread. She loved to sew and knit and would knit sweaters for the new babies in her community. After the children left home, she received her master’s degree from Vanderbilt. For many years, Barbara volunteered at the Baptist Hospital Medical Library, now St. Thomas Midtown, as well as Nashville Children’s Theatre.  She was a parishioner of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Nashville for over 40 years.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Monday, April 3 at 6 p.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 525 Sneed Road, Nashville, TN 37221.

Arrangements by Nashville Funeral and Cremation, 210 McMillin Street, Nashville, TN, 37203