Mary West Barlow

1961 - 2024

On March 26, 2024, Mary West Barlow, devoted wife, mother, and friend, departed this life on her sixty-third birthday. Mary was born on March 26, 1961 in Lafayette, Alabama to Norman and Jean West. She studied early childhood education at Samford University and went on to earn her Masters degree in education in 1985. At Samford, Mary was a member of Kappa Delta sorority and served as secretary. She taught for twelve years in public schools in Birmingham, Alabama and Jackson, Mississippi. In Jackson, she met Johnny, her husband of 34 years. They married in August of 1990 and in 1993, had their daughter Savannah. In 1996 they moved to New Orleans where she lived the rest of her life. She was always involved in her community here, especially after Hurricane Katrina, when she led an effort to connect women and children with housing, clothing, and food. Mary was fiercely devoted to her family, friends, and church. She was deeply spiritual and enjoyed a rich prayer life. She is survived by her husband Johnny, their daughter Savannah, her stepchildren, Brandi Bishop, Daniel Barlow, and Benjamin Barlow, her brother Brad West, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. We will celebrate Mary with a memorial service at First Baptist Church of Kenner on Tuesday, April 2, preceded by a visitation at 10 am.