Barbara Cantrell

Barbara became a full-time resident of Rabun County in June, 1993, after moving from Gainesville, GA, where she and David raised their family. Barbara has two married children, three grandchildren and two grand dogs. Her two older grandkids are students at GA Tech, although she is an avid Dawg. She is a retired Realtor and enjoys volunteering, traveling, gardening and reading. She became a member of the POH Board of Directors in March, 2020, shortly after the death of her husband, David. Being a Board member of Place of Hope from the ground up has been a learning experience for Barbara. Getting a 501(c)(3) up and running requires a lot of time and dedication from those involved and “it takes a village” to make it successful; and she was an integral part of the process. When Barbara became a Board member, she knew that there was a need for more foster parents; but that was about the extent of her knowledge of the foster care system. She has now taken the I.M.P.A.C.T. Class (a requirement for foster parents in GA) and other classes in order to work directly with the children in transitional care at Place of Hope. While waiting for the opening of the house at 81 Derrick Street, she has worked with children at the Rabun Co. and Habersham Co. DFCS offices. She is also a member of a “Care Community” that supports a foster family in the county by providing a home-cooked meal once a week and offers up prayers for the family on a regular basis, and just loves on them. She states “The Rabun County community and those who have a heart for children in foster care have been the driving force behind Place of Hope’s success”. Fundraising for Place of Hope is also one of Barbara’s duties (and one she is extremely gifted in doing). Barbara is also one of the main driving forces behind planning our annual “Picnic for a Purpose”. She states “This is a fun event with good food, entertainment and a chance to visit with your neighbors. Please make plans to attend.” On May 15, 2022, Barbara became the bride of Mr. Pat Henry in a sweet ceremony at Clayton Baptist Church where they are both members. Congratulations to the new couple! Barbara says, “If you are looking for a way to give back to the most vulnerable children in our community, Place of Hope offers many opportunities for you to share your talents”.