Submitted for publication by the family of the late Maxine Barron:
Metta Maxine Culpepper Barron, aged 87, beloved wife of Dr. Marvin L. Barron, died on November 11th at their home in Rainsville, Alabama. She was born December 1, 1928, to Green Walter Culpepper and Etta Hilda Tilley Culpepper in Section, Alabama.
Maxine grew up in the Powell community, and attended Powell Elementary School. She graduated from Fyffe High School, and attended Montevallo College near Birmingham. She loved her Culpeper and Tilley family heritage, and worked tirelessly to publish two books on her family history titled “Tilley – Ireland” and “Culpepper – England.” These books were published in 2000 and 2004, respectively.
Maxine dreamed of starting a library for Rainsville from the first time she worked in the library at Auburn University while her husband attended classes. Maxine’s work at the University library not only gave them financial support, but gave her a firsthand knowledge of how a large library operates and was therefore a footprint for the Rainsville Library. Rainsville’s first library was started in Rainsville City Hall, and after the first year was moved to a renovated garage building behind the City Hall, where it remained for five years. As the library grew, it moved to other locations until some years later it had a new building built on Highway 35 in Rainsville.
Maxine started the first Girl Scout and Brownie troops for Rainsville, and was a troop leader for many years. The entire Barron family was involved in the Scout organization, and Maxine made sure the family attended weekly activities.
Maxine was talented with her crewel embroidery for pillows and wall hangings, and their home reflects her beautiful work. She loved embroidery and made Christmas ornaments for the family, including grandchildren, every year. She especially loved tea towels to give as gifts to brides starting a new home. Her grandmother, Eliza Ann Culpepper made this a custom of the Cupepper’s, and Maxine continued the custom into her mid-eighties. Each design was made for the individual and for the color of their kitchen. Long after it was easier to just buy new towels, she wanted the bride to have a towel made by her hands. She was also an accomplished knitter, making slippers and afghans for family and friends. If you were lucky enough to have one of the afghans on a cold evening, you will think of Maxine and all of the beautiful things she made for those she loved.
Maxine was instrumental in the early beginnings of the Upper Sand Mountain Parish. She approached the Methodist Bishop Dr. Lawrence Dill of the North Alabama Methodist District, in the summer of 1967 to discuss the possibility of a Parish for Sand Mountain. In June of 1969, the Parish had its first Director, Reverend Doyce Gunter, and the first Church and Community Worker, Betty Purkey. Maxine worked side by side with them to start the Upper Sand Mountain Parish. They worked on canning food, showing others how to plant and grow their own vegetable gardens, and soon, the Gardens of Plenty was born.
The first thrift store was opened in an old church, and Maxine and Betty would sort donated items along with other volunteers from the Parish. Today, the Parish helps hundreds of families in the greater Sand Mountain area with food, clothing, and housing. Maxine received the prestigious Denman Evangelism Award in 2004 for her service and commitment to the Methodist Church. She was a member of the Section Methodist Church, where she served on numerous committees over the years.
In addition to her husband, Dr. Marvin L. Barron, to whom she was married for 66 years, Maxine is survived by her brother, Cecil Gene Culpepper. She has three daughters, Sheila Cox (Steve), Hilda Neis (Arn), and Tina Barron. She is predeceased by her son, Marvin L. Barron II, who passed in July of this year. Grandchildren are Laura Jane Cox, Marvin Barron III, Carmen Jean Barron, Henry Hobdy Barron, Claude Barron, and Seth Armstrong.
Maxine died exactly as she lived, with great dignity and very much on her own terms. She was surrounded by family members and her loving husband. Two of their grandsons, Marvin III and Hobdy took Dr. Barron for an early morning walk on their woodland home property just moments following Maxine’s passing, and we know she would have approved. She had to have approval in all things, and to her end, she had this right down to a walk in the woods just after her passing.
