Josephine Harbers

Josephine Eakins Harbers died January 20, 2021, at the age of 92. Her family celebrates a life well lived, full of fun and laughter, caring and nurturing, creativity, faith, and mostly -- love.

Josephine (Mama and Mom to her children; Bubba and Grandma to her grandchildren; Josie to her sisters and close family; and Jo to her husband and friends), never missed Mass, rarely cursed, never went a day without asking St. Anthony for solace, and never stopped mothering her children.

A close descendant of the American painter Thomas Eakins, Jo was unusually creative. She painted (both paintings and rooms), sewed like a professional seamstress, crocheted, knitted, did macrame, made Halloween costumes, and did make-up and sets for the Uwharrie Players little theater group. She even won an award for best penmanship in school.

Jo loved the beach, family history (her grandfather was Samuel Eakins, a submarine commander in the Civil War), Christmas, licorice all sorts, cats, music, books, travel, stylish clothes and shoes, and playing Canasta with the same group of friends for over 50 years.

Most of all, Jo loved her family. Her hallmark was worry, and she was known to say, “You’re only as happy as your unhappiest child.” She knew when one of them was in distress, from across the miles, without being told. She faithfully cared for her husband during the decade-long languish before his death.

Josephine was born and raised in Maplewood, New Jersey, in 1928. She followed her parents, George and Josephine Johnson Eakins, to New London, North Carolina, when she was in her 20s, where she met and married Robert H. Harbers, Jr. in 1952. The couple settled in Albemarle where they raised nine children:  Kathleen Roberson, Joanne Williams, Patricia Harbers, Judith Wagner, Elizabeth Harbers, Susan Staley, Robert Harbers, III, Carol Harbers, and Mary Lynn Powers. She is grandmother to Meghann Feldweiser, Benton Roark, Brett Williams, Timothy Williams, Kylie Williams, Dustin Williams, Holly Martin, Jimmie Martin, Rachel Edison, Walter Laird Staley, Josie Harbers, Lily Harbers, George Brebner, Beau Brebner, Trevor Casey, and Josie Casey. She has five great-grandchildren.

The funeral Mass is Monday, January 25, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic Church in Albemarle. She would have been happy to know that memorials were directed to Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic Church.

Memorials may be made to Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic Church, 416 N. Second Street, Albemarle, NC  28001

Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Harbers family.

Online condolences may be made at www.hartsellfh.com