Barbara Jones Frady

Early on the morning of All Saints’ Day, 1 November 2017, Mrs. Barbara Jones Frady went to join in the company of Angels and Archangels and all the Saints in heaven, and her dear Lord, Jesus Christ. Barbara was born on December 12, 1936 in Asheville, North Carolina. She was adopted by Carl and Edith Jones and raised on a farm near the western border of the Biltmore Estate. After her father passed in 1946, she and her mother lived in West Asheville with her grandfather Fred Jones, who was a career police officer with the Town of Asheville. She married the love of her life, Major Porter R. Frady (US Army, Ret.) in 1970. The family moved to Swannanoa and settled in a house that lovingly came to be known as “The Gingerbread House.” Working full-time as a social worker, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology (as Valedictorian) from UNC-A, and then was graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, with a Masters in Social Work. Her career continued with the Blue Ridge Mental Health Center, serving as the Director of Adult Substance Abuse and other programs. She was a member of Psi Chi International Honor Society. Barbara was a beautiful, smart, strong, loving, generous, successful, professional woman. From fighting for civil rights in the 1960’s, to working 30+ years as a clinical social worker - fighting for those struggling with mental health, she had a passion for helping those in need. This passion led her to help establish the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry, the D.W. Lawrence Elementary School in Swannanoa, and other programs in Buncombe County. Barbara always had a love for people - all people. She truly saw, as scripture says, that we are all “beautifully and wonderfully made.” Barbara was also a great storyteller and the one and only Ms. Pockets! She brought joy to many events, she passionately worked to help people find their own joy and she knew and shared with many the true source of her joy, Jesus Christ. She had a fierce love for family, enjoyed the fellowship of many friends, gladly served her church and relished spending time up in the mountains. Barbara died peacefully in Black Mountain, NC at the age of 80. She is survived by her children: Laura Nalesnik, Michael and Barbara Zeigler, Carl and Sharon Zeigler and Tracy and Greg Goyne; her grandchildren: Christopher Nalesnik, Anna Kate Shaw, Jessica Beaumont, Jonathan Zeigler, Laurel Zeigler, Rebecca Zeigler, Joshua Zeigler, JP Goyne and Benjamin Goyne; and her great-grandchildren Keagan Shaw and Brennan Shaw. Barbara is preceded in death by her loving husband, Porter Frady and her son in law Greg Nalesnik. A celebration of life is scheduled for 2pm, November 18th at St. James Church in Black Mountain, NC with a reception to follow. All are welcome to attend. The family asks that instead of flowers, please make donations to any of the above named organizations. Please note “In Memory of Barbara Frady” in your donation. Barbara Frady Groce Funeral Home on Tunnel Road is assisting the family.