Barbara Harmack Taggart

Barbara June Harmack Taggart was born June 28, 1926 in Gary, Indiana to Edwin and Gladys Harmack, the youngest of three daughters. She married Dean Milburn Taggart on June 14, 1947 in Indianapolis, Indiana. They had four children; David Bruce, Tara Sue, Michael Dean, and Jill Ann. After graduating from Lew Wallace High School in Gary, Indiana in 1943, she attended Indiana University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work in 1947. She later returned to Indiana University and graduated with a Master of Arts in Teaching in 1962. She was a life member of Indiana University Alumni and Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority Barbara’s professional career included working as a Field Director of the Indianapolis and Marion County Girl Scouts (1947-1951); a teacher in the Elkhart, Indiana School District (1951-52); Executive Director of the Women’s Student YWCA of Indiana University; Director of the National Student YWCA in New York City (1968-1971); Director of the Greenville, SC YWCA (1971); a social worker with the Greenville County Housing Authority (1972–1989); a Peace Corp worker in Jamaica (1989-1991), and a housing counselor for Sunbelt Human Advancement Resources in Greenville (1991-1995). She served as chairperson of the following boards of directors in upstate South Carolina: the Greenville County Health Planning Council, Volunteer Greenville, the Community Housing Resource Board, the Special Student Services Advisory Council of Greenville Technical College, the Homeless Coalition, and the Upstate Homeless Coalition. In addition, she served as a board member for the following: the Greenville Hospital Advisory Council, the Greenville County Home Health Services Council, SC Home Health Service, Girl Scout Council 096, and Family Counseling Services. Barbara was well-known and loved for her ability to foster communication and cooperation among the wide variety of local public service providers with whom she served. Her many recognitions and awards include the Girl Scouts Thanks Badge 2 Award (the highest national award made to a local volunteer), the Jefferson Award (the highest national award made to a local volunteer), and the naming of a street in her honor; Taggart Drive, a perimeter road surrounding an Upstate Homeless Coalition housing site in Spartanburg County which was named in honor of her work in the founding of that Coalition. The highlights of her career included participation in the 1964 summer Asian Seminar with the World University Service during which she traveled to Japan, Thailand, China and India; Director of a YWCA project in Lebanon in which she worked with Palestinian refugees; her appointment as the Worldwide YWCA International Nongovernmental Representative to the United Nations; her Peace Corp work in the Kingston City Dump in Jamaica; and her work in founding the Upstate Homeless Coalition. Barbara was a member of the Greenville County Baha’i Community. She is survived by her children David, Michael (Kathy), and Jill (Bob); her granddaughter Starr Elizabeth Morris (father, Jamie Morris); and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters Gladys Harmack Forgey and Wahneetah Harmack Donaldson, her granddaughter Grace June Taggart, and her daughter Tara Sue Taggart. Graveside service will be Friday, July 10 at 3:00 PM at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Greer. A Celebration of her life will be held at the Baha’i Center Sunday, July 19 at 3:00 PM. The center is located at 132 Greenacre Rd, Greenville, SC 29607. Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels-Greenville County, 15 Oregon St, Greenville, SC 29605 and Greenville County Animal Care, 328 Furman Hall Rd, Greenville, SC 29609. Jill, her daughter and caretaker, would like to thank all the special friends who were so supportive of her and her mother. Jill’s appreciation is also extended to Patriot Hospice for their gentle care.

Barbara Harmack Taggart

June 28, 1926 - July 9, 2015