The Shadow
Ingrid Wallace Barber has been selected as the 2024 Highlands Christmas Mother. She has chosen “Love Thy Neighbor” as her theme for the Christmas Mother program. Ingrid is a native of Clifton Forge and is married to Randy Barber. They have a daughter, Ashland Paige, who graduated from James Madison University in May of 2020, and resides in Charlotte, North Carolina.
In addition to being the Executive Director for Alleghany Highlands Community Services for fifteen years, Ingrid serves on the Mountain Gateway
Community College Board of Directors, the Bath Community Hospital Board of Directors, League of Older Americans Board of Directors in Roanoke, the WestRock/Ingevity-Alleghany Highlands Community Advisory Panel, the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards Leadership Team as Chair, the Virginia Association of Community Services Board of Directors, the Alleghany County Community Management Policy Team, and the Alleghany County Public Schools Gifted Advisory Committee.
She graduated from Alleghany High School with honors in 1988 and James Madison University in 1992. She received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Production and Operations Management from James Madison University, and she also minored in Economics. Ingrid also graduated from The Virginia Bankers School of Bank Management in cooperation with University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce in 1999. Ingrid obtained her Masters of Business Administration degree from Liberty University in 2006.
Prior to working at Alleghany Highlands Community Services, Ingrid was Director of Budget and Finance for Alleghany County Public Schools for five years, and Ingrid also worked in the banking industry for almost 12 years ending with BB&T as an Area Operations Manager.
During her spare time, Ingrid enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and reading. She also enjoys walking her two toy poodles, Bella and Mae.
Applicants will be welcomed Oct. 14 and 15 at Central United Methodist Church 414 Main St. Clifton Forge 9am-4pm, and October 16-18 at Granbery Memorial United Methodist Church 425 W. Main St. Covington 9am-4pm.
Applicants must bring a photo ID, Social Security numbers for all members of the household, plus cards for SNAP, TANF, Medicaid and SSI/SSDI. Also bring proof of employment and income.
Tax deductible donations can be mailed to P. O. Box 242 Covington VA 24426. The Christmas Mother Shop will open Tuesday, November 12th and close Friday, December 13, 2024, at First Christian Church 231 W. Fudge St. Covington.
Past Christmas Mothers: 1974 Mrs. Maudie Mitchell. 1975 Mrs. Marky Huffman, 1976 Mrs. Terry Fridley, 1977 Mrs. Mary Carolyn Gwinn, 1978 Mrs. Connie Oliver, 1979 Mrs. Norma Meeks, 1980 Mrs. Ginger Leitch, 1981 Mrs. Nell Cobb, 1982 Mrs. Jean Sheppard, 1983 Mrs. Dottie Tysinger, 1984 Mrs. Jane Tucker, 1985 Mrs. Pat Johnson, 1986 Mrs. Charlotte Martin, 1987 Mrs. Beverly Alexander, 1988 Mrs. Mary Wheatley, 1989 Mrs. Anne Wright, 1990 Mrs. Karen Robertson, 1991 Mrs. Mary Ann Beirne, 1992 Mrs. Peggy Taylor, 1993 Dr. Pam Childress, 1994 Mrs. Dianne Garcia, 1995 Mrs.Denise Pillow, 1996 Mrs. Betsy Arritt, 1997 Mrs.Katherine Easterly, 1998 Mrs. Linda Venable, 1999 Mrs. Elizabeth Warwick, 2000 Mrs. Lois Gillette, 2001 Mrs. Susan Lewis, 2002 Mrs. Susan Lindstrom, 2003 Mrs. Gwen Withrow, 2004 Mrs. Lang Wilson, 2005 Mrs. Martha Nicholson, 2006 Mrs. Cindy George, 2007 Mrs. Lynda Thompson, 2008 Mrs. Marva Sellers, 2009 Dr. Brenda Lindsay, 2010 Mrs. Tonya Holley, 2011 Mrs. Carolyn Young, 2012 Mrs. Ann Marie Herr, 2013 Mrs. Teresa Hammond, 2014 Mrs. Patricia Hartman, 2015 Mrs. Lisa Schoppmeyer, 2016 Mrs. Marie Fitzpatrick, 2017 Mrs. Libby Burger, 2018 Mrs. Michele Wright, 2019 Mrs. Holly Peters, 2020 Mrs. Brenda Linkenhoker, 2021 Dr. Susan Rollinson, 2022 Mrs. Mary Asma, 2023 Mrs. Becky Perkins, 2024 Mrs. Ingrid W. Barber
