Helen Darlene Barnard, who grew up in Bridgehampton and was affectionately known as Ty, died on April 28 in Portsmouth, Va. The cause was complications of breast cancer. She was 70.
“Those who love her the most remember her for her amazing sense of humor and wit, her love of art, music, skillful poetry, and her wonderful alto singing voice,” her family wrote. “Ty often reminisced about her grandmother’s cooking, her childhood in strawberry orchards, fresh corn, and peaches. She was a natural beauty and a tomboy, often choosing nature over materialism.”
Ms. Barnard worked in child care for many years. Later, she supervised a janitorial team at a police station, which was said to be the cleanest it had ever been. When she retired from AAA as a roadside assistance representative, customers wrote to say how helpful she had been in their time of need, her family said.
Born in Southampton on April 28, 1953, to Sisco E. Barnard Sr. and the former Gertrude H. Mason, she graduated from Bridgehampton High School in 1972. After living in New York City with her sister for a time, she moved back to Bridgehampton, where she met and, in 1978, married First Lt. Chavis Harris. They had two daughters, and their adventures took them to Mississippi, North Dakota, and Colorado. Though the marriage ended in divorce, the couple remained close throughout Ms. Barnard’s life.
As a mother, she worked hard to instill core values of self-love, strength, independence, honesty, and respect for others regardless of social status. She made sure her daughters could “appreciate the little things” and not sweat the small stuff, her family said.
Her motherly nature extended to strangers, and she tried to help anyone in need no matter the circumstances. She could cook for the entire neighborhood and made “the most heavenly potato rolls.”
Ms. Barnard enjoyed choreography and dancing at the Bridgehampton Community Center, and was competitive in sports, including softball and volleyball. She was strong in her faith to the end, her family said.
She is survived by her daughters, Chavi Miles of Denver and Valencia Thomas of Norfolk, Va. A brother, Sisco Barnard Jr. of New York, and two sisters, Tara Barnard-Williams of New Jersey and Valerie Letcher of Florida, also survive, as does Karen Harris, a friend she considered a sister. She leaves a grandson, Christopher, many nieces and nephews, and many other relatives and friends. Two brothers died before her.
Ms. Barnard was cremated. A celebration of her life is to be announced. Her family has suggested memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, Md. 21741, donate.cancer.org, or 1-800-227-2345.
