Barbara Mahaffey Derrer, aged 73, died peacefully on May 6, 2019 at a hospice center in Marietta, Georgia, after a courageous 4-year struggle with pancreatic cancer. Barbara was born October 22, 1945 in Miami, Florida, the daughter of the late Willard A. Mahaffey, and Patricia Mulloy Mahaffey.

Barbara was athletic and ran track for her high school. She was also a majorette and twirled a baton with the marching band during football season. After graduating from Palmetto High School in Miami, she attended Florida State University, where she studied education and met and married the love of her life for 53 years, Thomas Derrer, an accounting major. During college she also worked as a model.

After Barbara and Tom graduated from Florida State University, Tom entered the Navy as an officer and was sent to the Vietnam War. After the birth of two of their children in Pensacola and Miami while Tom was in the Navy, Barbara and Tom moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, where Tom started his career in accounting. Barbara was 9 months pregnant with her third child when her life was dramatically changed by the gospel witness of a pastor who knocked on her door in West Palm Beach. That day Barbara came to know Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior through the humble pastor's witness, and she spent the rest of her life sharing Christ with others. She was a faithful follower of Christ.

The family lived in Virginia for a few years, but resettled in Miami, Florida from 1978 until after Hurricane Andrew in 1992, when they moved to the Atlanta area.

Barbara was a passionate elementary school teacher for 28 years at Christian schools in Miami and the Atlanta area. She retired after teaching for 17 years at Mt. Paran Christian School in Kennesaw, Georgia, where she taught the subjects of science and the Bible. Barbara and Tom have been active members and volunteers at First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Georgia for 17 years.

Barbara was a patient, loving, and kindhearted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Many would say she was one of the sweetest people they've ever known. She delighted to hear the busy chatter of her children and grandchildren, she was always happy to hear tales of their accomplishments and travels, and she was quick to tenderly bandage up the physically and emotionally wounded.

Barbara is survived by her husband Tom, her three children Dr. David Derrer (Joy), Mrs. Bonnie Shaw (Walt), Mrs. Kristie Cole (Randy), her twelve grandchildren (Sophia, Sara, Robert, Jessica, Corey, Emma Grace, Thomas, Mary Kate, Caroline, William, Matthew, and Elizabeth), Barbara's mother Patricia, four siblings, and many nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are provided by Lakeside Funeral Home located at 121 Claremore Drive, Woodstock, GA 30188. The family will receive visitors at Lakeside Funeral Home on Saturday, May 11, from 12-1:45, and the funeral will be held starting at 2pm, with a reception to follow at First Baptist Church of Woodstock located at 11905 Highway 92, Woodstock, GA 30188.

The family wishes to thank everyone who cared for Barbara during her 4-year battle with cancer, and express our deepest gratitude to the numerous people who offered boundless love and support to Tom and her children. The family is particularly grateful for Barbara and Tom's loving Sunday School class at First Baptist Church of Woodstock, and to the heroic Drs. Carmen Klass, Sachin Goel, and Sahir Shroff of WellStar Kennestone Hospital.

Online condolences can be left at Lakeside Funeral Home website: lakesidefuneralhomega.com. Donations to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) to further pancreatic cancer research and patient services are appreciated. Donations can be received in Barbara's honor on-line at pancan.org, or by phone at 877-272-6226.