Barbara Belew

"There will be glorious harp and piano music tonight in Heaven."

The family and friends of Ms. Barbara Jeanne Belew are deeply saddened by her passing, but we know her joy of now being with her Savior.

Barbara Jeanne Belew was born on November 1st, 1929 to Horace Russell Belew and Mattilene Lloyd Belew in Plainview, TX., and went to see her Lord on February 13th, 2025.

During her 95 years with us, she earned a Bachelor of Music, summa cum laude, from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, TX in 1951. She earned a Master of Music from the University of Indiana in 1953.

She was appointed Instructor of Music at McNeese State University in 1955. That year, she also became a member of the Music Teachers National Association, Louisiana Music Teachers Association, the Lake Charles Piano Teachers Association and became an active member of the executive board of the Lake Charles Messiah Chorus and Orchestra, serving as secretary for many years. She worked as Piano and Harp professor at McNeese State University for over 60 years. She was the principal harpist for the Lake Charles Symphony from 1958-2008 and remained on-call for many years after that. She was a harpist for the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra until 1968. She wrote all publicity from McNeese State University music from 1964-1994 and won several awards for her writing. She was harpist for the Rapides Symphony Orchestra in Alexandria, LA until 1999. Barbara became a member of the American Harp Society in 1970. She founded the Louisiana Chapter of the American Harp Society in 1972 and served as vice-president and advisor. She served two terms on the American Harp Society National Board of Directors as Director of the Southern Region from 1973-1979.

She was promoted to Associate Professor of Music at McNeese State University in 1980 and was also named as a Certified Teacher of Music by both the Music Teachers National Association and Louisiana Music Teachers Association that same year. She founded the McNeese State University Harp Camp in 2000, later continuing as director.

Barbara served as Sunday School secretary at Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles, LA from 1975 until 2025. She continued being an active member of MTNA, LMTA, LCPTA, AHS and Delta Kappa Gamma Society International until 2025.

Those left to cherish her memory are her cousins, Thomas Belew of Paris, TX and Kay Kitchens Hopkins of Frisco, TX. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Barbara's funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at Trinity Baptist Church, 1800 Country Club Rd., Lake Charles, LA. Randy Monroe and Dr. David Rose, Pastor will officiate. Visitation will be from 1:00 PM until the start of the service. Cremation was entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles.