Elaine Hartley

Elaine Barber Hartley of Hoover, AL, more recently of Pelham, AL, passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 1, 2024 after a long respiratory illness. Born Opal Elaine Barber to Henry B. and Alpha W. Barber on July 8, 1936 in Donalsonville, GA. She attended Seminole County High School and later Valdosta State University, graduating in 1958. While working at JC Penney, she met the love of her life, John Malcom Hartley, who was attending Auburn University, and they married in 1959. They lived in the married student housing on campus, and Elaine worked in the administrations office at Auburn while Malcolm finished his degree. Upon his graduation, they moved to Newport News, Virginia where he worked at the U. S. Naval Base and Elaine began her career as an amazing homemaker and mother. While in Virginia they gave birth to their two sons, John Malcolm Jr. and Kyle Barber and their daughter Jana Elaine. Malcolm’s career moved them to Atlanta and ultimately to Hoover, AL in 1979. They found a church home at Shades Mountain Independent where they met a lifetime of friends, and where their faith could take on its full potential. Elaine was tirelessly involved early on with youth group activities, serving Wednesday night dinners and helping her husband with the Prime Timers. She was a member of SMI for over 40 years, blessed with so many precious memories and friends. Elaine loved devouring the daily newspaper and following her beloved Atlanta Braves.

Elaine is preceded in death by her parents, her husband John Malcolm Hartley, Sr. and her only sibling, Henrietta Bennett (Bob) of Charleston, SC. She is survived by her children, John Malcolm Hartley, Jr. (Randi), Kyle Barber Hartley and Jana H. McWilliams (Thomas). Seven grandchildren & seven great grandchildren: Morgan (Mike) Revier (Amelia & Ambrose); Tiffany (Steve) Repke (Eleanor & Ezekiel); Alicia Cox; Hunter (Kiersten) Hartley (Thea); David (Katelyn) Cox; Harrison (Cassidy) Hartley (Ava & Kenneth) and Jared Hartley.

Visitation at 11:00 am at Shades Mountain Community Church (2281 Old Tyler Rd, Hoover, AL 35226) with the Celebration of Life Service beginning at noon. Graveside service immediately following at Currie-Jefferson Funeral Home & Jefferson Memorial Gardens, 2701 John Hawkins Pkwy, Hoover, AL 35244.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to SMCC Missions Fund.