Barbara Keene Spurgeon

March 3, 1947 - March 9, 2021

Barbara Keene Spurgeon, 74, passed away on March 9, 2021 in Sarasota, Florida after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. Barbara is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, Winston Broaddus Spurgeon, daughter Sarah Spurgeon Whitehead and her husband Scott Whitehead, son Robert Winston Spurgeon and his wife Sybil Louise Spurgeon, granddaughters Lila Joan Spurgeon and Audrey Lanier Spurgeon, sister Marianna Keene Williamson, and other dear family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother. Barbara was born on March 3, 1947 in Williamsburg, Virginia to Robert and Thelma Keene. She attended James Blair High School, where she and Winston were high school sweethearts. She also attended Campbell University in Campbell, North Carolina before she and Winston were married on August 23, 1968. Barbara and Winston spent a wonderful life together raising their children, traveling extensively, and starting many business ventures. They owned and operated several businesses over the years, including Williamsburg Publishing Company, Sarasota Bay Explorers, Tarpon Bay Explorers, and LeBarge Tropical Cruises. In their time together, they have enjoyed making homes in Williamsburg and Seaford, Virginia, Sanibel, Sarasota, Key Largo and Anna Maria Island, Florida, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Highlands, North Carolina. Before moving from Williamsburg to Florida in 1993, Barbara was an active member of the Green Springs Garden Club, and served several years as its President. Barbara had a flair for decorating, flower arranging, setting a beautiful table, and entertaining with style. She was an avid cook and took pleasure in making wonderful meals for family and friends. She was also a spirited East Carolina University football fan, as ECU is the alma mater of Winston and both of their children. Barbara was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and sister who always made her family feel loved with caring words, thoughtful deeds, and sweet gifts. Barbara’s family would like to extend a special thank you to the amazingly dedicated staff at Sarasota Memorial Hospital and Tidewell Hospice. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Skin Cancer Foundation at skincancer.org.