Barbara Ann Aldrich

Barbara Ann Aldrich passed away on February 12, 2026, surrounded by her family and friends after fighting a battle with cancer. She was born on December 16, 1946, to Glen and Lorene Hall. She was preceded in death by her parents, five siblings and 5 days earlier, by her husband, Cecil D. Aldrich. Barbara was loved and will be greatly missed by her daughters Cynthia Brennan (Shel) and Tracy West, her grandchildren, Katherine Chamberlain (Tommy), Caroline Stanford (Jon), Brendan West, Colby Brennan, and by her great grandchildren, Lainey Kate and Emmy Lou Chamberlain and many friends. Barbara was a woman of small stature, but what she lacked in size was well surpassed by courage, sass, love and enthusiasm for adventure. At the age of 3, Barbara met her husband of 62 years, Cecil “Skip” Aldrich, when his family moved next door. Their friendship and love blossomed, and she was determined to not let him get away. At seventeen, still in high school, she followed him all the way to Germany. So, even during wartime, he could not escape her. While stationed overseas, the two shared many fun adventures and bonded with several friends that they still count on and remain close to today. Barbara loved to shop, travel, and tend to her flowers, but her favorite pastime was just being with family and friends. She may be known to have had 3 of the same sweaters in different colors or pairs of shoes because they were on sale. She may send you a call at random times of night to talk or to share something she had seen, read, heard, or was doing or just because she “butt dialed.“ When that was the case, she still talked no matter what time it was. Barbara loved her girl trips with friends just as much as she loved her trips with Skip. When people came to visit, they would often be forced to walk around her yard for hours looking at and listening to every detail about the lives of her many flowers and plants, her “jungle” as family called it. Oftentimes, she would send you home with clippings or seeds so you could grow your own just like hers, but no one ever could. She certainly had a green thumb. Barbara wore many hats, both literally and figuratively. She was a daughter, sister, mother, friend and a caretaker, but to her grandchildren, she was just Grandma. This meant she would be whatever they wanted her to be at the time. She was a baker, a cowgirl, a dancer, a gymnast, a princess, a singer, a soldier and a student, but most importantly, she was a wonderful Grandma. She was up for anything to make life fun for herself and for those kids. She was a great “partner in crime.” Barbara will be forever missed by family and friends, but we know she is on another one of her adventures. She is off to find Skip, where they will be living and enjoying a pain free life together again. She gave him a 5-day head start, but by this time, she has caught back up to him. The next time we see her, oh what stories she will have to tell.Barbara has chosen to be cremated, but there will be a memorial service on Monday at Thomas C. Strickland Funeral Home in Pooler. Visitation will begin at 10:30am with a funeral to follow at 12:00pm. Family and friends are invited afterwards to Wilmington Island Plantation to celebrate the lives of Barbara and Skip. The family asks in honor of Barbara, please wear a hat if you wish.  Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Homes - WEST CHATHAM CHAPEL - 901 West Highway 80 - Pooler, Georgia (912) 748-2444