Barbara Welch Sechrest

Barbara Welch Sechrest was born in Lexington, NC on December 22, 1938. She passed away peacefully aged 85 on December 15, 2024, in Louisville, Kentucky.

Barbara Welch married Everett Sechrest on June 14, 1958. They had three children: Carole, Dean & Michael. She was a National Honor Society member. She rode in the Lexington Homecoming Parade with Everett driving a convertible. She received her bachelor's degree from Catawba college (N.C.) in 1960 and her master’s degree from the University of Louisville in 1982. She was a big supporter of University of Louisville basketball.

She was a lifelong educator who taught school at Christian Academy of Louisville, Iroquois Middle School as well as Wilder Elementary. She is a Christian. She attended Watkins Methodist as well as Westport Road Baptist Church through the years.  

She loved the Smithsonian, classical music and reading. She and her sister Patti took piano and dance lessons and even performed at the Carolina theater.  

She was a very intelligent person who loved to laugh. She was a very giving and caring person. She was an amazing mom, a loving sister and was a doting “Nana’ to her grandchildren. She was the kind of person who always put everyone else’s needs above her own. She was always there for you day or night. Whenever we would take mom out to lunch or dinner, young people (her former students; often then in their twenties) would run up and hug her and tell her what a difference she had made in their lives. It didn’t matter if they were straight A students, troubled children, etc. she cared for them all equally in the same loving and thoughtful way.

She ended up living most of her life in Louisville and made an impact not only on her students, but her son’s childhood friends as well: “She had been like a second mom to me when I lived there. I knocked on the door and your mom answered the door and immediately recognizes me nine years later. She then welcomes me inside and made me feel so warm and welcome. We talked for a long time, and I left walking on ‘cloud 9.’ My mom ended up driving up from Tyler, Texas to see your mom and had a wonderful visit. Your mom had a light inside her. A very special woman.“ DS.

She was preceded in death by her parents; Herbert Welch (3/1/1915-10/17/1987) & Vicki (Cooper) Welch (3/27/1918-1/23/2002) and her daughter; Carole Allison Sechrest (11/4/1959-7/25/1960). 

Barbara is survived by her two sons; Dean Sechrest (Angelia); grandson, Brandon Sechrest; and granddaughter, Ali (Sechrest) Webb; great-granddaughter, Abigail and Michael Sechrest (Tracy); grandsons, Evan & Alec Sechrest (mom Kim Anderson); as well as stepdaughter, Courtney Konopinski (mom Tracy). She is also survived by her sister, Patti Norton; nephew, Chris Norton; nieces, (Kim Fabry & Julie (Steve) Zell); as well as many other friends and relatives.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6pm on Saturday, December 21, 2024 at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals and Receptions, East Louisville Chapel, 235 Juneau Drive, Louisville, Kentucky 40243.  A celebration of Barbara's life will follow at 6pm.  Burial will be private.  

In honor of Barbara, please consider a donation to “The Kentucky School for the Blind", which is a nonprofit organization established in 1984. Their mission is to make a difference in the education, independence, and quality of life for students and individuals who are blind or visually impaired in the state of Kentucky.” Kentucky School for the Blind.

To leave a special message for the family, please use the "Guestbook" feature below.