Barbara J. Cornelia

Barbara Jay Cornelia, 90, of Columbia, SC, died Tuesday, August 21, 2018. Born in Winnipeg, Canada, on July 3, 1928, she was a daughter of the late Earle and Mary O’Connor Adams, of Vancouver, B.C. Barbara began her life as an actress and singer, working on stage and on TV in Canada and the U.S. Many of her friends in Vancouver will remember her work on the outdoor stage, “Theatre Under The Stars”, in Stanley Park. She would return to Vancouver to visit friends and family every year after leaving for the U.S. in 1963. Barbara received her B.A degree at the University of British Columbia and her master’s degree in English and Shakespeare at the University of Washington in 1968. She was a professor of drama at San Francisco State and later she became well-known for her high school musical productions while a teacher at San Rafael High School during the 1970’s. She married her late husband, Robert Cornelia in 1977 and they lived in several places due to Robert’s work for AT&T. Together, they finally settled in Columbia in 1987 when Robert was named President of the Nassau Metals plant in Gaston, S.C. for AT&T. Barbara worked as a volunteer docent at the Columbia Museum of Art. She was an active member of Wildewood Golf Club, an ardent bridge player who earned life masters status, and traveled the world many times and especially enjoyed China. She loved to throw a party and held them often for her many friends. Her final years were spent at Wildewood Downs Retirement Community. Survivors include her son, Gordon McLeod (Melanie), of New York City; a daughter, Paddy McKenzie (Robert), of Victoria, Canada; step-children, Joan Cornelia Wallace (Ray) of Tennessee, Robert Cornelia, III of California, Joseph Cornelia (Barbara) of Ohio; grandchildren, Grace and Jane McLeod, of New York City, Natalie McKenzie and Chris Hernandez, of Montreal, Canada. The commital service for Mrs. Cornelia will be held 2 o’clock, Tuesday, August 28, 2018, at Fort Jackson National Cemetery, 4170 Percival Road, Columbia, with Fr. C. Alexander McDonald officiating. The family will receive friends following the service at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia.

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Barbara J. Cornelia

July 3, 1928 - August 21, 2018