Obituary of Barbara June Merritt

Barbara June Merritt died June 15, 2020 at Lexington Medical Center- Extended Care. She was born in Calcutta, India to James and Emily Bryant. Barbara was educated at the foothills of the Himalayas Mountains at St. Helen’s Catholic School for Girls. After the family returned to Hayes, England, she met and married a young US Airman, John W. Merritt, Sr.

The young couple relocated to South Carolina where their son, John W. Merritt, Jr. was born. Barbara retired from The State newspaper in 1992. Barbara and John enjoyed 58 years of love-filled marriage before John Sr.’s death in 2011.

In addition to her son, John Jr. and wife, Jan, of Winston-Salem, NC, Barbara's survivors include grandson John W. Merritt, III and wife Alisha of Fort Mill, SC; granddaughter, Emily Velker and husband, Jeff, of Cambridge, MA. Barbara cherished her great-grandchildren, Wesley and Olivia Merritt of Fort Mill, SC. Also surviving are niece Ruth Joseph and nephew James Bryant of England and nieces June Levesque (Roland) of Beaufort, SC and Bridgett Lawson (Marvin) of Darlington, SC.

The family would like to thank the staff at Oakleaf Village Assisted Living of Lexington, SC and LMC-Extended Care of Lexington, SC for the care they gave Barbara.

Her life will be celebrated by the family at a later, safer date. Thompson Funeral Home of West Columbia is assisting with the family.

Please sign online guest book at www.thompsonsfuneral.com