Barbara Newsom

1944 - 2025

Barbara Skutt Newsom, 80, of Memphis, Tennessee joined her beloved Joe and was embraced in the arms of her Lord and Savior on March 1, 2025. Barbara was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, but lived most of her life in Memphis. She was a graduate of Whitehaven High School and Memphis State University. After graduating from Memphis State University, she started her career in teaching at Treadwell High School. She continued her career as a Middle School English/Literature teacher at Briarcrest and then at Evangelical Christian School. She challenged her students, but they always knew they were deeply loved, and she would do everything she could to help them succeed. Barbara was an accomplished pianist and a devoted church member who played faithfully at Colonial Baptist Church and Audubon Park Baptist Church. Later in life, she and Joe were devoted members of Bellevue Baptist Church and Germantown Baptist Church. Barbara was also known for her sense of style and her warm, welcoming spirit, always bringing friends and family together with joy. She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Joe Newsom; her parents, Charles H. and Wilma K. Skutt and her brother, Bob Skutt. She is survived by her daughter, Hollye Waddell (Matthew) and her granddaughter, Claire. She is also survived by her nieces, Julie Beavers (Stephen) and Abby Jo Lee (Randall), as well as their children. A memorial service will be held on March 6, 2025, at Germantown Baptist Church. Visitation will start at 10:00 am with the service to follow at 11:30 am. Memorials may be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.