Steven Kenneth Barber

Steven Kenneth Barber was a beloved husband, brother, uncle, and friend. He was called to his eternal home on January 31, 2024, just eight days shy of his 71st birthday.

He slipped away peacefully with his wife, Laura, at his side. He had experienced a sudden, unexpected relapse (after 11-plus successful years of remission) of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). He passed inpatient at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center's hospital due to complications from AML. For those of us left behind, we are grateful that Steve is free from cancer and its wicked complexity, and that he now rests in Heaven. His spirit is, and always will be, with us. It is the quality of the years that always matters more than the length of time spent here on Earth.

Steve passed as he lived: with strength and dignity.

Born in LaGrange, Georgia, and raised in Atlanta, Steve was a gentle, thoughtful man whose kindness, compassion, optimism, and humility were always an inspiration to others. He was also known for his clever sense of humor and could ace any trivia question related to college athletics!

Steve received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of South Carolina (Go Gamecocks!), specializing in the areas of ERISA transactional and compliance law, as well as employee benefits law.

In 1979, upon taking his first job as in-house counsel with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, he moved to Tampa, Florida, where he lived for the remainder of his life.

He was a partner at Fowler White Boggs Banker for 25 years before transitioning to Shutts & Bowen, where he was a partner and member of the Corporate Practice Group.

Steve was named among the Best Lawyers in America® in employee benefits law and was consistently recognized by Chambers USA as one of America's Leading Lawyers for Business.

He was an accomplished author with many published documents and was often a featured presenter at conferences and seminars. He was an active member of the Tax Section of The Florida Bar, as well as the Tampa Bay Pension Council (where he served as co-chair).

Steve was a man of deep faith. He was a member of Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church for decades. It is where he and Laura were married and where they continued in regular attendance at traditional services together. He was a resting elder and member of the Building & Grounds Committee.

Steve was very proud of his Scottish heritage (Young and Stewart clans). He wore his Stewart kilt proudly, including at his and Laura's wedding. He was a long-serving board member of the St. Andrew's Society of Tampa Bay, spending several years as a steward, then chief steward, vice president and president (2009).

He was athletic his entire life and enjoyed running for fitness. Steve frequently participated in 5K races for charitable causes, where Laura joined him (at a slower pace!) for the 25 years they were together.

He was an avid gardener and was especially devoted to caring for the rose garden (more than 36 hybrid teas, plus a few antiques) he designed for Laura as the focal point of their backyard. The two volunteered together several consecutive years at GreenFest, the annual plant festival organized to raise funds for Tampa's oldest and largest public park.

Steve also joined Laura in volunteer service for Moffitt Cancer Center. Their favorite Christmas Eve tradition was to visit patients in the wing of 3 West (the Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) wing where Steve received his transplant). Joined by Moffitt leadership, they presented blankets and helped spread holiday joy and hope to those patients facing, or recovering from, a marrow transplant. In 2019 and 2020, Steve and Laura traveled to Tallahassee to participate in Moffitt Day, raising awareness and communicating with state legislators about the need for continued funding for cancer research.

Steve was predeceased by his parents, Wilburn Barber and Helen Parker Barber, of Roswell, Georgia.

He is survived by the love of his life and devoted wife, Laura Miller Barber, of Tampa. When the two first met, they bonded over their shared enthusiasm of college football (particularly the SEC!). They were truly best friends and shared many hobbies and interests. They were a strong team throughout their time together in life -- especially being present, and as advocates, for each other's medical journeys these last two decades.

Steve is survived by his brother, John Barber (Isabel), of Spartanburg and Isle of Palms, South Carolina; his nephews, Steven Barber (Katie); Stuart Barber (Courtney); and John Barber Jovaneli (Matthew), all of Charleston, South Carolina; and their respective children. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Sharlene Miller Loudermilk, of Tampa; and his sister-in-law, Janna Miller Bartlett (Richard), of Brooksville, Florida.

Steve's journey with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), which then progressed to AML, began with reduced hemoglobin counts in early 2010. He was formally diagnosed a year later and, after intense chemotherapy, was able to receive a life-saving stem cell (bone marrow) transplant in 2012 from a generous young man from Massachusetts.

Steve and Laura are forever grateful to Steve's exceptional medical teams – both within and outside of Moffitt Cancer Center. They are also grateful for his donor, who was found through Be The Match, and for all those who selflessly donate blood to help others. This group of individuals gave Steve the gift of life for 14 years once his journey began – and for more than 11 years post-transplant. Steve's family will forever cherish the memories made during this time, including many trips to their favorite destination of Charleston.

If one feels inclined to make a charitable contribution in memory of Steve, please consider: Be The Match Foundation; H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation (please specify that your gift is for the BMT clinic and/or hospital wings); or Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church. Please also give thought to a personal life-saving gift by donating blood at your local blood bank.

A private interment will be held later this year.

Steve was steadfast and filled with gratitude. He appreciated each, and every, day. Steve would want anyone reading this to remember to live, laugh, and love!