Barbara Gladney Cauthen, age 79, the loving wife of David Britnell Cauthen, passed away Saturday, September 12, 2015, in their home near Decatur and Hartselle. She is survived by her husband; her son, Britt Cauthen (Leigh Ellen); a daughter, Allison Elaine Cauthen; six grandchildren, Sandlin Cauthen Graham (Zach), Ella Cauthen, Reid Cauthen, Gray Cauthen (Brittany), Shelby Cauthen and Chase Cauthen; and three great-grandchildren, Grady and Murron Graham, and Navy Grace Cauthen. Barbara is also survived by her twin sister, Elaine Gladney Lane of Dallas, Georgia.
Mrs. Cauthen was born in Bremen, Georgia on May 20, 1936, to Thomas James Gladney and Tommie Stallings Gladney. She graduated Bremen High School as Validictorian of her class in 1954 and from Auburn University in 1958, earning a degree in Home Economics.
After teaching kindergarten in the Atlanta, Georgia, public school system, she married David Cauthen July 5, 1958 and taught fifth grade in the base elementary school at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, Santa Ana, California, where her son was born. The family returned to Alabama in 1960 and settled in Roanoke, Alabama, where her husband was employed in his family’s independent telephone business. In 1962, while her husband attended and graduated the University of Alabama’s School of Law, she worked as a case manager at Alabama’s Bryce Mental Hospital in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Upon her husband’s graduation, the family moved to Decatur where she was a housewife with two children. Later, Barbara worked for, and became office manager of, her husband’s and son’s law firm, Cauthen & Cauthen. She continued to serve in that capacity for approximately 18 years, including five years after her husband’s retirement from law practice.
Barbara was a devoted and loving wife and mother, a practicing Christian, generous giver, and a loyal and devoted friend.
Visitation will be on September 16th in the fellowship hall at Central United Methodist Church, 616 Jackson Street SE, Decatur from 9 to 10 a.m. The memorial service in the sanctuary will begin at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Gary Formby officiating.
Graveside services will be in the city of Roanoke, Alabama, Cedarwood Cemetery on September 16th at 4 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Central United Methodist Church in Decatur or to Alacare Home Health & Hospice, 1690 Beltline Road SW, Suite B, Decatur, AL 35601.
