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Barbara Shull Hartley

December 18, 1938 ~ March 22, 2022

RALEIGH - Barbara Ann Shull Hartley, 83, was born in Ossining, NY on December 18, 1938, and died in Raleigh of heart failure on March 22, 2022. Barbara spent most of her childhood growing up in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Following her 1956 graduation from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School she married her high school sweetheart, Charles ‘Charlie' Federline, with whom she shared four children. Following their divorce in 1971, Barbara was reunited with a childhood friend, Laurence "Larrie" Hartley, a meeting which sparked a long, happy, and deeply loving marriage. They wed in Rocky Mount, N.C. in 1973, blending together a family of six children. Their marriage lasted until Larrie's passing from Alzheimer's in 2007. Before relocating to North Carolina, Barbara had distinguished herself in high-end retail with Claire Dratch in Bethesda, MD, often modeling in their fashion shows. She then expanded her talent of upscale retail sales in Rocky Mount. Barbara later became a successful artist, creating mirrors, lamps, frames, and more, all creatively adorned in broken Vietri pottery. She also possessed a unique style of painting, often inviting her grandchildren into her studio to craft artwork alongside her. In addition, she was an exceptional cook and loved to entertain. In 2021 Barbara moved to Brookdale Senior Living in Wake Forest where she lived across the hall from her delightful older sister, Marilyn Brown. Their combined dementia and Alzheimer's did not dim their shared love of puns and music. During her nearly eight months there, and ever the social butterfly, Barbara quickly made friends, sharing her special brand of humor among the residents. Throughout her life Barbara never met a stranger, and many will cherish and miss the love, laughter, and effervescence she warmly shared. In addition to being predeceased by her beloved husband, others who parted before her include her parents Marjorie Jervis Shull and Frank Taylor Shull, Jr.; her loving brother George Shull, plus many other deeply loved family members and close friends. She leaves behind her four daughters, Dr. Terri Remy (David) of Falls Church, VA; Stacey Sauter of Potomac, MD; Pamela Federline of Fayetteville, NC; Marjorie Dunagan (Tim) of Wilmington, NC; her stepchildren, Eugene ‘Skip' Hartley and Katurah Hartley of Las Vegas, NV; grandchildren Nicholas Younghaus (Stephanie) of Bradenton, FL; Paul Remy (Amelia) of Boston, MA; Vanessa Sauter of San Diego, CA; Max Higgins of Las Vegas, NV; and, Hank Higgins of Chapel Hill, NC; her only great-grandchild, who was the last love and joy of her life, Johnathan Younghaus; and, the extended Brown, Shull, and Hartley families, as well as children of close family friends. Finally, she leaves her little furry companions, Buxton and Barkley, who gave her so much joy. The family wishes to thank the team and residents at Brookdale who loved and cared for her; and before that Sallissa Wetherholt who briefly tended to Barbara in Fayetteville. To honor her memory, in lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Alzheimer's Association: http://act.alz.org/goto/barbarahartley A celebration of her life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on April 9th, Wheeler and Woodlief, 1130 N. Winstead Ave., Rocky Mount, North Carolina, 27804. A 45-mimute visitation period begins at 1:00 p.m. Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com. Visitation Atrium of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home 1130 N. Winstead Ave. Rocky Mount, NC 27804 ID ) ); ?>"> --> 252-451-8800 --> | Saturday 4/9, 1:00 pm - 1:45 pm Visitation with the family will be from 1:00 PM to 1:45 PM prior to the service in the Atrium of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home. Service Chapel of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home 1130 N. Winstead Avenue Rocky Mount, NC 27804 ID ) ); ?>"> --> 252-451-8800 --> | Saturday 4/9, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm A Celebration of Barbara's Life will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2022, at 2:00 PM in the Chapel of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

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  1. I never met your mom Pamela, but have loved your posts about your stories of your mom. You were always there for her and made her last years feeling loved. May she Rest In Peace and bless you and your family.

  2. Barbara was truly one-of-a-kind. She brought joy and laughter wherever she went. I cannot listen to the Uppity Blues Women without thinking of her. Jim and I are forever grateful to Barbara for introducing us 33 years ago. We will miss her terribly, but the Angels are in for a treat!

  3. We will surely miss our one and only Bubba. Her infectious laugh, quick wit, ability to spin a yarn, creativity and warm hugs are part of my fondest memories. And… it goes without saying that everyone in Heaven will be wearing the most amazing accessories from this point forward!


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