Barbara Jean Conrad

Barbara Jean Conrad of Huntsville, Alabama, beloved mother to three children, age 85, passed away on December 18, 2025, at Crestwood Medical Center, Huntsville, AL. She was born in New Haven, CT on August 26, 1940. Barbara is survived by her children, Patricia Jeffery (Scott), Steven Conrad (Cindy), and Katherine Conrad (Andy Haun); two grandchildren, Cassian and Megan Collins; sister, Judith Welsh; brother, Richard Welsh (Marie); nephew, Christopher Welsh; and grandniece, Aubrey Welsh. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Emma and Richard Welsh.
Barbara spent a happy and busy childhood in West Haven, CT, surrounded by a very large family and friends. When she was a teenager, her father moved the family to New London, CT, where she attended the local high school, and met her future (ex) husband, a Coast Guard cadet, at the family's Lutheran church. At the age of 19, she married him in Hawaii, and, nine months later, had her first child there. Barbara grew up in the post-World War II era when expectations for girls were to become mothers, not have a profession. She spent the first 35 years of her life being a military wife and mother, but while doing so, found her passion as an artist and her strength as an intelligent, talented young woman. During these years she made the decision to obtain an education towards a profession in mental health.
Barbara held an Associates of Fine Arts degree from Northern Virginia Community College (1977), a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Middle Tennessee State University (1979), and a Master of Science degree in Human Development Counseling from George Peabody College for Teachers of Vanderbilt University (1980). She completed her practicum and began a career that spanned inpatient, outpatient, and day treatment mental health services across Decatur, Giles, McNairy, Maury, Wilson and several other counties in Tennessee, retiring in 2000 from Columbia, TN. She served in administrative and daily clinic operational, supervisory, and clinic director roles while continuing to provide direct client services. She received American Red Cross Mental Health Disaster certification (2002).
While she primarily worked treating Alcohol and Drug clients, she was particularly proud of her work supporting clients with HIV/AIDS and was responsible in obtaining clinic contracts for this work. She was profoundly impacted while providing grief support and leadership as the primary counselor for the 1995 school shooting in Lynnville, TN.
In the mid to late 1980s, Barbara became more involved in ministry at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lebanon, TN, providing part-time ministry, counseling, and support. She first came to Huntsville, AL, as a Program Director at St. Mark's Lutheran Church (1992-1993). She was approved as an Associate in Ministry by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, SE Synod in 1995. Barbara fully retired in 2010 and later relocated to her tenth state and fifteenth town/city, Prairie Village, KS, to be near her grandchildren and youngest child. She made her final relocation in 2015 and returned to Huntsville, AL, to live at Magnolia Trace near her two oldest children and escaping cold Kansas City winters.
Before her mental health career, Barbara was devoted to the arts community wherever she resided. She was an exceptional artist in any medium - oils, watercolor, pastels, clay, and scrapbooking. In the 1960's, while living in Seattle, she became a professional artist and co-owned a co-op art gallery, taught classes, and participated in local art shows. She also loved photography, a foundation of her art.
Music was a central part of her life. She picked up the ukelele and played and performed with the Ukelele Community Choir at St. Marks Lutheran church, while living in Huntsville. She attended many symphony concerts in Nashville, Kansas City, and Huntsville, and she had a wide repertoire of music listening interests.
Throughout her life she loved the outdoors and adventures: hiking, walking, skiing, camping. Being from the New England coastline, Barbara loved the ocean and always greeted the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Gulf with her toes. From her roots she had a love of food, especially seafood. Barbara enjoyed engaging in family games, and in retirement learned to play Mah Jong. She was a ferocious reader of books (murder mysteries were a recent favorite) and recommended many to her children. She also enjoyed storytelling and attending the Jonesborough storytelling festival.
Barbara always had a furry companion by her side. While there were many experiences with family dogs, she loved her calico, ragdoll, and other cats: Patches, Kiki, Andy, Sophie, and Ginger. While in Willowbrooke Court Skilled Nursing she enjoyed ongoing visits from furry friends.
Barbara fully invested herself in her children and grandchildren, shaping their lives and interests. While Barbara's creativity and artistic talent will continue to be enjoyed for generations, her extraordinary love and sense of humor will be missed greatly. She is deeply loved and admired by those who knew and cared for her, and her legacy will continue.
Services will be on January 8, 2025, at Laughlin Service Funeral Home 2320 Bob Wallace Ave SW, Huntsville, AL 35805. Visitation will be at 11:00 a.m. and the service will be at 12:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her name to the Acts Legacy Foundation, the Magnolia Trace Willowbrooke Court Fund, 877-287-0799, www.actsgiving.org; Greater Huntsville Humane Society GHHS, https://ghhs.org/; or a local nonprofit of your choice supporting mental, emotional, and/or spiritual healing.