Annie Lois Barbare, 89, died at Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Center in Laurens, SC, Tuesday, March 26, 2002 at 12:30 AM. Nephews and nieces are E. Richard Taylor, Drayton Barbare, Polly Barbare Adkins, Lollie Barbare Eykyn, and John D. Culbertson. She is also survived by a sister-in-law Polly West Barbare. In July, 1974, "The State" newspaper had this to say: Lois Barbare, who for 34 years directed the development of the book collection of the South Carolina State Library, retired June 30. Miss Barbare came to the State Library in 1943 from the Stark General Hospital in Charleston where she had established and developed library services for patients. During her years with the South Carolina State Library, the book collection grew from 25,888 volumes inherited from the Works Project Administration[sic] (WPA) to more than 150,000 in 1978[sic]. Miss Barbare supervised the publication of a complete catalog on microfilm and the distribution of this catalog to the county and regional headquarters of each public library system in the state. In addition to her service to the State Library, Miss Barbare has assisted public libraries throughout the state to streamline and update their cataloging and processing procedures. She was honored by the SCSEA on June 10, 1995 as a Charter Member. According to the SC State Employees Association history (http://www.scsea.com/): The South Carolina State Employees Association is a non-profit, non-partisan organization established to advance the welfare of state employees and retirees and to promote efficiency in the administration of the business affairs and public services of state government. It is supported financially by the dues of those employees and retirees who choose to be members. The Association started in 1943, when a group of about 20 state workers wanted to establish a state retirement system[italics mine, jdc]. Because establishing the system required an amendment to the State Constitution, the employees organized an informal state employee group to publicize the need and work for a state retirement system. They solicited voluntary contributions to finance the effort to achieve the retirement system. Eventually, a steering committee was formed and officers and a board of directors were appointed. The Association's first president, the late F. M. Rast, was elected, and by 1945, the S. C. Retirement System was a reality. "In 1945 there were approximately 50 members of the Association" [per telecom SCSEA, 3/27/2002, based on certificates awarded in 1995, jdc.] In 1946 the South Carolina State Employees Association was officially chartered. The Association has won many benefits for state employees since that time, including pay increases, retirement increases, a state grievance procedure, the state-supported health insurance plan, the dental insurance plan, improvements in leave, and retirement with full benefits after 30 years of service. Lois was the daughter of the late Annie Hudson & the late James Drayton Barbare of Taylors. She attended and was graduated from Greenville Woman's College (1933) The University of South Carolina (1933) and Emory University, Atlanta (1938) with a degree in Library Science. Additionally, she was Supervisor of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Library Project and had held jobs with the WPA as District Supervisor (two different districts in SC), Cataloger and Assistant State Supervisor. She was employed by the State Library as Assistant Executive Secretary for the SC State Library Board. Memorials may be made to the Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Center in Laurens. The graveside service was at Milford Baptist Church Cemetery, Taylors, SC, at 11:00am Thursday, 3/28/02. The chaplain from the Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Center led the service, and Mrs. Ellen Barbare (Culbertson) Abramo, Lois's grand-niece, sang "It Is Well With My Soul" which was Lois's favorite hymn. Woods Funeral Home in Greer had charge of the funeral arrangements. "She loved classical music and walks on the beach at Pawleys Island." John D. Culbertson