BILOXI --- MRS. BARBARA A. FERRILL, A LOVING AND DEVOTED WIFE, MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER, DIED THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1999, AFTER A THREE-YEAR BATTLE WITH CANCER. SHE WAS 67.
MRS. FERRILL WAS A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF BILOXI AND A GRADUATE OF BILOXI HIGH SCHOOL. SHE EARNED AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE FROM PERKINSTON JUNIOR COLLEGE, A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI, AND A MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION FROM WILLIAM CAREY COLLEGE.
SHE RETIRED FROM TEACHING AND COACHING IN 1997, AFTER 40 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE. SHE TAUGHT IN SEVERAL COAST AREA SCHOOLS, INCLUDING 23 YEARS IN THE GULFPORT SCHOOL SYSTEM AND NINE YEARS AS A HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS INSTRUCTOR AT MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE, JEFFERSON DAVIS CAMPUS.
SHE WAS A MEMBER OF NUMEROUS PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS INCLUDING MISSISSIPPI ASSOCIATION OF COACHES; MISSISSIPPI HEALTH, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, RECREATION AND DANCE; MISSISSIPPI ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS; NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION; NATIONAL COACHES ASSOCIATION; NATIONAL DANCE-EXERCISE INSTRUCTOR'S TRAINING ASSOCIATION AND FIT-PRO AEROBICS ASSOCIATION.
SHE RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS INCLUDING 1985-86 GIRL'S COACH OF THE YEAR FOR MISSISSIPPI ASSOCIATION OF COACHES; 1987 STATE OF MISSISSIPPI'S SECONDARY PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER OF THE YEAR; 1987 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AWARD FOR SECONDARY PHYSICAL EDUCATION ALLIANCE FOR HEALTH, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, RECREATION AND DANCE. SHE SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF MISSISSIPPI ALLIANCE OF HEALTH, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, RECREATION AND DANCE IN 1991-1992 AND VICE-PRESIDENT IN 1985-1986. IN 1989-1990 SHE SERVED AS THE COORDINATOR FOR THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI AFFILIATION WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SPORTS WEEK AND SERVING TWICE AS ITS CHAIRPERSON. IN 1982 SHE WAS ONE OF EIGHT PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHERS IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI SELECTED TO SERVE ON THE ACCREDITATION TASK FORCE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE CREATED BY THE EDUCATION REFORM ACT OF 1982. IN 1992-93 SHE WAS APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR FORDICE TO SERVE ON THE COUNCIL ON PHYSICAL FITNESS FOR THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI. SHE ALSO SPOKE AT SEVERAL LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL CONVENTIONS ON SPORT AND COACHING. SHE SERVED ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE CITY OF BILOXI FROM 1986-1994; ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR YOUNG VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION FOR HARRISON AND JACKSON COUNTIES FROM 1984-1986 AND THE TULLIS TOLEDANO MANOR BOARD.
HER GREATEST LOVE WAS PLAYING AND COACHING GIRL'S SOFTBALL. HER GREATEST HONOR WAS HAVING THE HILLER PARK SOFTBALL FIELD NAMED IN HER HONOR "THE BARBARA FERRILL GIRLS SOFTBALL COMPLEX."
SHE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HER MOTHER, RUTH WENTZELL FALLO; HER FATHER, TONY FALLO; A SISTER, ROSE COLBET; AND A BROTHER, A.J. FALLO.
SURVIVORS INCLUDE HER HUSBAND, THOMAS E. FERRILL SR. OF BILOXI; FOUR CHILDREN, KIMBERLY FERRILL MOSELEY OF FRANKLIN, TENN., THOMAS E. FERRILL JR. OF HATTIESBURG, PAMELA R. FERRILL AND CHRISTOPHER G. FERRILL, BOTH OF BILOXI; HER STEPMOTHER, VINNETTE FALLO OF BILOXI; A SISTER, TONI MARIE COALE OF BILOXI; AND SIX GRANDCHILDREN, THOMAS E. FERRILL III, JENNIFER FERRILL, HALLIE FERRILL AND LEAH FERRILL, ALL OF HATTIESBURG, MATTHEW MOSELEY AND KATHERINE MOSELEY, BOTH OF FRANKLIN, TENN.
VISITATION WAS HELD FROM 6 TO 9 P.M. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1999, AT THE HOWARD AVENUE CHAPEL OF BRADFORD-O'KEEFE FUNERAL HOMES IN BILOXI. ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1999, THERE WILL BE AT 10 A.M. MASS AT ST. MICHAELS CATHOLIC CHURCH WHERE FRIENDS MAY CALL FROM 9 A.M. TO 10 A.M., WITH A 9:30 A.M. ROSARY. BURIAL WILL BE IN BILOXI CITY CEMETERY.
Published September 3, 1999 The Sun Herald