Barbara Crothers Cope 86 died surrounded by her family at her home in Newberry SC on Sunday January 20 2008. The family did receive visitors at the Whitaker Funeral Home in Newberry from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday January 24. The funeral were at Aveleigh Presbyterian Church Newberry SC on Friday January 25th at 11 a.m. conducted by the Rev. Dr. Mitchell VanMetre.Mrs. Cope was born in Rochester NY on March 20 1921 a daughter of Armeda Van Demark Crothers and Oliver Frisbie Crothers. She attended The College of Wooster in Wooster Ohio graduating in May 1942. While studying at Wooster Mrs. Cope developed a love of poetry and throughout her life she wrote and published her poems in local and national magazines. She was the author of four books of poetry among them Fabric: A Family Portrait and Reflections: An Idyl in Poetry and Prose. Her latest book Roses and Remembrance was published several months before her death. Mrs. Cope maintained a keen interest in genealogy and as a direct descendant of the pilgrims and an active member of the Mayflower Society she enjoyed tracing her family back many centuries. A member of the Daughters of the American Revolution a past president of The Fine Arts Club of Newberry a past president of AAUW and a leader of her church circle for many years Mrs. Cope was particularly honored to be presented in 2002 with the Volunteer of the Year Award by the women of Aveleigh Presbyterian Church. She and her husband of 53 years Robert Samuel Cope--who predeceased her in 2002--taught the Neil Trusdale Sunday School Class at Aveleigh where they had been members for over 30 years. In her husbands honor Mrs. Cope established The Robert Samuel Cope Memorial Scholarship at Newberry College. She had founded a scholarship in honor of her parents and brother--The Crothers Scholarship--in Phelps NY in 1995. The family wishes to thank Mrs. Copes long-time devoted caregivers--Julia Tribble Mildred Crump Veronica Singleton Sally Neal and Carmen Mincey in addition to neighbors Joy and Bobby Hamby. Mrs. Cope is survived by five children--W. Randall Cope of Columbia Sandra Stieglitz of Columbia Stephen C. Cope of Pittsfield Massachusetts Ellen Kneut of Rochester NY and Barbara Wiechmann of Lakeland Florida as well as six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Her brother William Van Demark Crothers died in 1979.Memorials may be made to Aveleigh Presbyterian Church 1211 Calhoun St. Newberry SC or to The Robert Samuel Cope Memorial Scholarship c/o Newberry College 2100 College St. Newberry SC 29108. Messages to the family may be sent via email at notes@whitakerfuneralhome.com.Whitaker Funeral Home Newberry is assisting the family.