Miriam Jane Barlow Archer, age 92, Jonesborough, passed away Saturday, March 21, 2020 at her home after a six-year battle with dementia.
Miriam was born in Banner Elk, North Carolina to the late William Harrison Barlow and Lunda Estella Ramsey Barlow on January 30, 1928. Miriam moved to Tennessee with her family as a young child. She was a 1946 graduate of Lamar High School and attended ETSU.
Miriam married in November 1948 to the late Richard Mitchell Archer and lived in the Lamar community for the remainder of her life. She was blessed with four children.
In addition to her husband and her parents she was preceded in death by her six sisters, Janette Barlow, Edith Barlow Jones and husband Tip, Ruth Barlow Raper and husband Tom, Margaret Barlow Collins and husband Minton, Mildred Barlow Privette and husband Bill, and Ester Barlow; two sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Archer Bell and husband Edgar and Virginia Archer Cooper and husband Glen; two brothers-in-law, Fred Archer and wife Sue, and Robert (Bob) Archer; and four nephews Tommy Raper, Marion Hugh Bell, Joshua Cooper and Jon Becka.
Survivors include two sons Terry Archer, Richard Alan Archer and wife Catherine; two daughters, Connie Archer and Sherry Archer Rice; sister-in-law, Pauline Miller Archer Phillips and several nieces and nephews.
Miriam was an active and devoted member of Bethesda United Methodist Church. She loved singing in the choir and being involved in the Bethesda Women’s Group. She loved her church family.
Miriam retired in the 1980’s from Anderson’s Catalog Showroom in Johnson City where she was the office manager. Miriam loved being outdoors working in her flower and vegetable garden and taking care of her yard. She was a lover of Mustangs. It was the only car she would drive. When her husband passed away in 2004 she started a journal for him letting him know all the things going on on earth and how proud she was of their 4 children. She kept this journal for 10 years until dementia stopped her from putting her words on paper. She was diagnosed in 2014 with dementia, but was able to live the remainder of her life in the home she and her husband built an raised their 4 children. She was taken care of by her children.
To the people who loved and knew Miriam she was a daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, wife, and most of all a mother. To her husband and children she was the world.
Her funeral service will be 1:00 PM Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at Bethesda United Church with Pastor Clyde Hester officiating and Alice Phillips musician. Due to the virus health crisis, the family requests attendance be limited to her family members and her church family that feel comfortable getting out.
Interment will follow at Bethesda Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Terry Archer, Alan Archer, Steven Tolley, Gary Butler, Carl Archer, and Wayne Jones.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations to Bethesda United Methodist Church Building Fund, 4708 Cherokee Road, Jonesborough, TN 37659.
Condolences may be sent to the Archer family online at www.dillow-taylor.com.
Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Jonesborough, TN 753-3821