Deniece McBride

Eva Deniece McBride was born on October 22, 1955, at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Georgia, to Alice "Pat" Highsmith Snowden and Frank Champion, she entered the world with a quiet strength and grace that would define the rest of her life. She was the heart of our family, our steady center, and our source of warmth and love.

On March 16, 1974, she married Dale McBride, beginning a marriage that would stand as an example of devotion, humor, and partnership for more than five decades. Their love story began with a memorable first date. She wore white jeans. Dale, determined to impress her, caught a fly in his hand and asked if she thought he had caught it. When she said no, he playfully slapped his hand on the knee of her white pants to reveal that he had. She appreciated his style and his spirit; it still lives in him today…the rest is history. Together, they built a life defined by commitment, resilience, and shared adventure.

As the matriarch of the McBride family, she created a home that was welcoming, lively, and full of the smells of Southern-inspired cooking. For as long as her children can remember, she prepared two meals a day without fail. Providing for her family and service to others was her love language.

Together, she and Dale raised three children: Michael Sean McBride, Kristy Rae (Wieder), and John Patrick McBride. She often fed the kids of the neighborhood and invited international students into the home to study abroad. She poured herself into motherhood, instilling in her children the belief that time together and relationships mattered more than material things. Experiences were treasured and possessions were secondary.

Her love of family adventure became tradition. For eight summers, the family chose houseboat trips to Lake Powell over Christmas presents and other luxuries that might be forgotten. Those summers created bonds and memories that endure today. Friendships were formed and there became extended family—you know who you are. Spring breaks were often spent at Panama City Beach, a place she loved deeply. She and Dale even purchased a condo there during formative frugal years, joking about the days when they were so broke they slept in the sand. The beach remained her happy place, and any stretch of sand and ocean air felt like home.

Professionally, she dedicated nearly twenty years to Transportation Alliance Bank before retiring in 2020. Prior to that, she was a familiar and beloved presence at the Triple Stop in Layton, Utah, where family lore insists she may very well have invented the potato logs. Wherever she worked, she brought diligence, warmth, and authenticity.

She found peace birdwatching at her lake house in Cleveland, Georgia, often accompanied by the dogs she adored and a cup of coffee with her husband. She was rarely still, barefoot more often than not, moving from chores to yardwork with tireless energy. Her green thumb was unmatched. Plants flourished under her care, and her yard was always a point of pride and beauty.

Her Christian faith was the guiding foundation of her life. She loved the Lord deeply and trusted Him through every season. That faith shaped the way she lived—serving others, opening her home, offering encouragement, and loving people without hesitation. She believed that caring for others was one of the most meaningful ways to live out her faith, and she did so quietly and faithfully every day. She and her husband have often been heard saying how undeniably His hands have lead their every path.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Dale McBride; her children Michael (Christy Peck McBride), best friend and daughter Kristy Rae (Nicholas Wieder), and John (Heidi Meng McBride); and her cherished grandchildren: Skye Dean McBride (Charlie Dean), Jake Love (Zoe Black), Wynter McBride (Connor Pantone), Autumn Rae McBride, Rachel Love, and Isaak McBride.

Her legacy is not measured in possessions, but in meals shared, beaches walked, summers on the water, and the countless ordinary days she made extraordinary through love and effort. The family she nurtured remains her greatest accomplishment.

She will be deeply missed, forever loved, and always remembered as the heart of our home.

Memorial services are scheduled for 2:00 P.M. Friday, March 27, 2026, at The Chapel of Barrett Funeral Home. The Rev. Marc Turner will officiate.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 – 2:00 P.M. Friday at the funeral home, prior to the funeral service.

Flowers will be acknowledged; however the family desires donations be made to Cleveland Worship Center "Together Building Fund 2026" – PO Box 667, Cleveland, GA 30528 or https://pushpay.com/g/thecwc

To share a memory or to leave an online condolence for the family, please visit www.barrettfh.com

Barrett Funeral Home of Cleveland | (706) 865-3101

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