Idolia Celestine

Barbee

Idolia Celestine Barbee, a devoted wife, loving mother, accomplished nurse, and faithful friend, passed away on Friday, November 6, 2026, following a long battle with illness. Her life was marked by faith in Jesus Christ, devotion to her family, a love of learning, and a generous spirit that welcomed others into her home and heart.

Born on September 20, 1949, in Wheeling, West Virginia, Idolia was the daughter of Lovelle and Naomi Johnson. She grew up with her siblings, Janice Ferguson, Phyllis Johnson, and Lovell Johnson Jr. Her family made their home in Cleveland, Ohio, where she graduated from Glenville High School in 1967. An honor roll student, majorette, and violinist, Idolia embraced school life with enthusiasm. One of her most memorable experiences was appearing in Glenville’s production of The King and I.

After high school, Idolia worked as a telephone operator for Ohio Bell. She also lived in Columbus, Ohio, during the 1970s. Her first two marriages, which ended in divorce, brought three sons into her life: Bryan Payne, Kevin Payne, and Brandon Barbee. Bryan and Kevin later lived with their father, while Idolia and Brandon made their home in Cleveland and Euclid, Ohio.

At University Hospitals in Cleveland, Idolia began working as a unit secretary before attending X-ray school and becoming an X-ray technician. She later specialized in ultrasound. She pursued her education and professional growth while raising her children as a single mother.

In 1982, while working at University Hospitals, Idolia met Dennis Barbee. They dated for two years and married on August 11, 1984. They made their home in Euclid and Richmond Heights, Ohio, with Brandon, while Bryan and Kevin lived with their father in Athens, Ohio.

While continuing her work in medical imaging, Idolia attended the Huron Road Hospital nursing program in East Cleveland. She graduated in 1986 and received the Kimmel Award, the highest nursing honor at her graduation. Over a long and accomplished career, she served in medical-surgical nursing, intensive care, home health, hospice, managed care, and case management.

On March 31, 1988, Idolia and Dennis welcomed a baby boy, whom they named Joshua David Barbee.

From 1988 to 1993, Idolia and Dennis lived in East Cleveland, Ohio. In 1993, they moved to Ventura, California, for an opportunity connected with Dennis’s father, Milton Barbee. Together, they hosted Health News, a 15-minute radio talk show in Los Angeles discussing health issues such as obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, and diabetes. The program was sponsored by Milton’s nutritional products. When the program concluded, both returned their focus to their nursing careers in California.

Idolia became Director of Case Management at Community Hospital in Ventura and later held the same leadership role at St. John’s Hospital in Oxnard. She also served as a clinical liaison for the Visiting Nurses Association. Continuing her commitment to education, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Information Systems from the University of Phoenix in California, graduating with honors and a 3.85 grade point average.

In 2006, Idolia and Dennis moved to the Franklin and Spring Hill area of Tennessee. They returned to college and each earned a Master of Business Administration degree. Idolia worked in insurance nursing and later became Nursing Director of Willow Brook Hospice. She subsequently served as Director of Nursing at Open Arms, a facility serving people with disabilities. She retired in 2017 after a long and successful nursing career.

Faith was central to Idolia’s life. She loved Jesus Christ as her Savior, read her Bible faithfully, and attended church regularly for many years. She sang in the choir at Thompson Station Church for five years. Her faith accompanied her through both the joys and challenges of life.

Idolia loved her family deeply and often entertained relatives and friends at her home in Spring Hill. A dedicated wife and mother and a loyal friend, she shared a wonderful sense of humor and a love of celebrating life. She and Dennis enjoyed close friendships with other couples and people they knew through their professional lives.

She enjoyed exercise, music, road trips, decorating her home, and watching movies with Dennis. She had a special fondness for BMWs, which she drove throughout their married life. Together, she and Dennis purchased six homes, and she delighted in making their home a welcoming place.

Coloring became one of Idolia’s cherished pastimes. She completed more than 3,000 pictures and, for seven years, colored daily in the office alongside Dennis while he worked toward retirement. Those everyday moments together were part of the companionship they treasured. In retirement, she devoted her time to supporting Dennis, enjoying her family, and pursuing the hobbies she loved.

Idolia faced a long battle with multiple illnesses, including colon cancer and exocrine pancreatic deficiency. She entered hospice care in March 2026 and remained in hospice for eight months before her passing on November 6, 2026.

She was preceded in death by her sisters, Janice Ferguson and Phyllis Johnson.

Idolia is survived by her beloved husband, Dennis Barbee; her brother, Lovell Johnson; her children, Bryan Payne and his wife, Missy, Kevin Payne and his wife, Ilene, Brandon Barbee and his wife, Evette, Joshua David Barbee, and Shawntay Hudson; and her grandchildren, Adam Payne, Garrett Payne, Dru Payne, Kevin Payne Jr., Christian Payne, Alorah Barbee, Yuma Barbee, Tremayne Richardson, Malike Richardson, and Heavenly Richardson. She also leaves great-grandchildren, a loving extended family, and many dear friends.

Idolia will be remembered for her steadfast faith, her dedication to caring for others, her humor, and the love she gave so freely. Her memory will live in the hearts of the family and friends who loved her.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00PM Sunday, November 22, 2026 at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Williamson Memorial Gardens. Active pallbearers will be Kevin Payne, Bryon Payne, Brandon Barbee, Joshua Barbee, Will Stevenson, Dwayne Brandon. Honorary Pallbearers will be Marlon Hardison, Brian Howard, Pete Falte, Eric King, Duane Tidwell, Kevin Payne, Jr., Kellen Payne, and Yuma Barbee. Visitation with the family will be 1:00PM-6:00PM Saturday, November 21, 2026 and 11:00AM-1:00PM prior to the service on Sunday.