Photo courtesy of Unity Funeral Parlors, Inc - Chicago
Sep 23, 1946 - Dec 13, 2025
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived. My prayers are with you, your son and family at a time like this.
Dorothy Snow
December 30, 2025 | Coworker
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Harold. E. Johnson
December 27, 2025 | Lemont, IL | Military
Remembered By
Randy Vick
December 27, 2025 | Lemont, IL | Friend
Barbara Elaine Whitfield was born September 23, 1946, the second daughter of (The Honorable) George N. Leighton and Virginia (Quivers) Leighton. Barbara was born one month before her father passed the Massachusetts Bar Exam and before the family moved permanently to Chicago.
Following her graduation from Hirsch High School on Chicago’s south side, Barbara obtained a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois in Champaign and later a master’s degree.
Her higher education degrees led her to a long career as a recreational therapist for troubled and mentally challenged children at several Chicago area hospitals including LaRabida, Michael Reese and children’s hospitals at the Illinois Department of Mental Health.
Barbara’s care of children continued after she retired as a child recreational therapist. She was honored several times for her years-long work as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit cuddler for prematurely born babies at Rush Presbyterian Hospital.
Barbara loved music, especially classical music. She played classical guitar for many years with a community ensemble group.
In addition to children and music, Barbara loved art fairs, and animals – especially dogs. She was always excited about collecting and putting up Christmas decorations – something she passed on to her son, John.
Her parents and her only sibling, Anne, preceded her in death.
Her loving husband, Robert, survives Barbara. Shortly before her death the couple celebrated their 50th year of marriage, having been married by her late father, Honorable George N. Leighton, while he served as a member of the Illinois Appellate Court.
Barbara is also survived by her son John and his partner K. Giddings, and her grandchildren Archer Whitfield and Zadie Giddings. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, her special friends, Dianne Glenn and Kim Davis, and many others friends and acquaintances.
The family wishes to extend special appreciation and gratitude to Barbara’s neighbors, Tisha, Matt and Drew, Barbara’s end of life palliative care team of Matthew Tyler, M.D. and Nicole Odya at St. Joseph’s Hospital and the nurses and staff at Alexian Brothers Hospital in Elk Grove Village, IL.
Memorial donations in Barbara’s memory may be made to Howard University or to Doctors Without Borders.
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