Deryl Barnhill

Deryl Ferguson Barnhill, of Northport, Alabama, died April 14, 2016 at Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines, Iowa. Deryl was born February 14, 1928, in Tampa, Florida, to Clara Worrell and Lester Joseph Ferguson.

Deryl graduated from Tuscaloosa County High at 17. She put herself through college, graduating from the University of Alabama at age 20. In 1949 a scholarship allowed her to attend Columbia University’s School of Social Work. In 1975 she received a MA in counseling from Ball State University.

From 1950 to 1978 Deryl, her husband and their four children moved 19 times to 11 Air Force bases in the US, Japan and Germany. She delighted in traveling while subjecting her children to nonstop Michelin guide readings.

Deryl was an early adopter of the Internet, communicating with friends around the world. In 1992, she won third place in the Alabama Writer’s Conclave contest. She loved the camaraderie of her Tuscaloosa writers’ group.

Deryl worked for the state of Alabama, the Red Cross, as a civil servant, and as a Shelton State Community College admissions counselor. She taught English as a Second Language classes as part of her church’s outreach ministry, enjoying lengthy conversations with her students from other cultures and faiths.
She was devout and embodied the best of Christian values. She refused to leave the Southern Baptists despite personal disagreement with their refusal to ordain women and lack of support for LGBTQ families. Her greatest disappointment was the rejection, based on gender, of her application for ordination as a deacon. A strong supporter of advancing the role of women, she would regret being unable to cast a vote for Hillary Clinton.

Deryl cherished all her children and grandchildren. She is survived by children, Beth (Peggy), Becky, Barby and Bryant, daughter-in-law Joan, grandchildren Samuel (Jennifer), Nico, Amelia, Brett, Nathan, Eliyzha, Nisha and EJ, great granddaughters Fiona and Aria, and extended family and friends. Her husband Loy, parents, and a sister and brother preceded her in death.

Her family is grateful to Joan Barnhill for the years of loving care she provided Deryl.
Her family also thanks the caring providers and staff who assisted Deryl in Tuscaloosa and Des Moines. Grant Harris and Morgan Eichorst, UA clinical geropsychology students, helped her write her beloved short stories.

A visitation will be held at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park and Chapel on Tuesday, April 19 from 11:00-12:30, followed by a graveside service officiated by Rev. Vial Fontenot. In appreciation for helping her make a peaceful transition from this life to the next, the family requests that memorials be made to Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines https://www.unitypoint.org/desmoines/online-donation.aspx or Hospice of West Alabama https://hospiceofwestalabama.sitewrench.com/donate.

Condolences may be expressed at: www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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