Obituary - Barbara Dobbins Elliott
Barbara Dobbins Elliott (Nina), 90, passed quietly on May 21, 2026 to join her Lord and reunite with her husband, Stuart K. Elliott. She was born September 14, 1935 to Marian M Thompson and Leslie S Dobbins in Richmond, Va. Besides her parents, she was also predeceased by her husband and her stepfather, Francis X Thompson (Buck).
Barbara is survived by her children, Terry Spurrier (Dennis) and Ken Elliott (Fran); five grandchildren, Lindsey, Erin, Mathew (Allie), Alex (Donnie), and Katie (Morgan); four great grandsons, Kit, Miles, Owen and Henry; a half-sister, Jackie Priest of Michigan; and 10 nieces and nephews.
Barbara graduated from John Marshall High School in 1953. She worked at Southern States Cooperative until her children were born. She and Stuart would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on May 11, 2026 had he not passed in October 2025. Barbara moved to The Hermitage Deep Run Assisted Living in February 2026 where she enjoyed playing Bingo multiple times a week, musical performances and visits from both children’s groups and therapy animals. In mid April, Barbara fell and broke her hip which began her quick decline.
In addition to being her children’s and grandchildren’s biggest cheerleader, Barbara was a member and former president of Epsilon Sigma Alpha. She also served in various roles, including president, of the Dumbarton PTA. A faithful member of Bethlehem Baptist Church for more than 60 years, she served on numerous committees, her favorite being the kitchen committee where she started by helping prepare Wednesday night dinners and later organized luncheons and receptions for church events. She also volunteered at St. Mary’s Hospital and the former HealthSouth Hospital. For more than 15 years she cared for her grandchildren until they went to preschool. She then returned to volunteering at Aggies Attic, a thrift store that supports projects of Greenwood United Methodist Church.
The Celebration of Barbara’s life will be held June 27, 2026 at 11am at Bethlehem Baptist Church. A luncheon will follow and all are welcome. Burial in the church cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Bethlehem Baptist Church at 4210 Penick Rd, Henrico, VA 23228.
