Barbara Ann Westmoreland

Alexander Funeral Home of Cleveland announces the death of Mrs. Barbara Ann Westmoreland, age 77 of Helen. Mrs. Westmoreland passed away Wednesday, December 01, 2010 at Northeast Georgia Medical Center after a long five year fight with ovarian cancer.



Mrs. Westmoreland was born on June 5th, 1933, as the youngest child of the late Chesley Matheson and the late Cora Dell Sims Matheson. In her life she wore many hats, working at varied jobs as a young woman. She became the mother of five children, was an entrepreneur in the restaurant business and in the retail gas business, a landlord, a caregiver, a member of the Helen City Commission for four years and served as Mayor of the City of Helen in 1995. She served on the Helen Downtown Development Authority and was active in the Democratic Party for many years as well. Mrs. Westmoreland remained politically and socially active wherever she saw the need for a reasoned voice throughout her later life. The help she was to community groups and individuals in need is beyond measure as she quietly worked behind many scenes without accolade or public thanks, wanting only to be a true catalyst for the changes she worked for.



Besides her parents, Mrs. Westmoreland is preceded in death by her husband, Jere Westmoreland, and her brothers William V. (Billy) Matheson and Robert E. (Bobby) Matheson.

She is survived by her five children: Leon Simmons and wife Jean of Cleveland; Dona K. Burke of Helen; Richard Thacker of Helen; Jere Lynn Westmoreland Whitfield and husband Matt of Cleveland; and Jay Westmoreland and wife Kim of Cleveland. She is also survived by ten grandchildren: Brandi Westmoreland Pilgrim of Blairsville; Cayci Jae, Emili and Madison Westmoreland of Cleveland; Jayme Lea and Dalton Whitfield of Cleveland; Christopher Thacker of Sautee; Issac Thacker of Helen; Jesse Huff of Perth, Australia; Sarah Brown of Cleveland; two step-grandchildren: Chris Unck of Los Angeles, California; Stefanie McElreath of Cleveland; and four great-grandchildren: Shelby and Lexi Turner of Cleveland; Eli Memphis Pilgrim of Blairsville; and Owen Huff of Perth, Australia.



The family will receive friends on Thursday, December 2, 2010 from 4 to 8 pm at Alexander Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held at 3pm Friday, December 3, 2010 from the Chapel of Alexander Funeral Home with the Rev. Marc Turner officiating. Entombment will follow at Yonah View Memorial Gardens.



Flowers are appreciated or memorial donations may be made to the donor's favorite charity.

Condolences may be sent to the family of Mrs. Westmoreland at www.alexander-funeral.com

Alexander Funeral Home, 2721 Hwy 129 South, Cleveland, Georgia 30528 in charge of arrangements