Helen Darlene Barnard, also known affectionately as “Ty”, age 70, passed away on April 28, 2023.

Ty was born in Southampton, New York and graduated from Bridgehampton High School in 1972. Those who love her the most remember her for her amazing sense of humor and wit, her love of art, music, skillful poetry, and her wonderful alto singing voice. Ty often reminisced about her grandmother’s cooking, her childhood in strawberry orchards, fresh corn and peaches. She was a natural beauty and a tomboy, often choosing nature over materialism. She loved activities such as dancing, choreography, and was competitive in sports such as softball and volleyball.

Ty had a motherly nature even towards a stranger. If she saw someone in need, she would try to help them, whether they were ailing in some way, scared about a first-time pregnancy, in need of a minister to strengthen their faith, or food made with love to warm their spirit. She could cook for the whole neighborhood and made the most heavenly potato rolls!  She could also bring out her inner warrior to protect those she loved.

After living in New York City for a while with her sister, she moved back to Bridgehampton where she met and eventually married a military officer, 1^st Lieutenant Chavis Harris in 1978. They had two children, and their adventures took them to Mississippi, North Dakota, and Colorado. Even though they eventually divorced, Ty and Chavis remained close friends for the rest of her life.

The most important job to Ty was that of a doting mother to her two daughters. She worked hard to instill core values of self-love, strength, independence, honesty, and respect for others regardless of social status. She made sure her daughters could “appreciate the little things” and not sweat the small stuff. When her girls were old enough, she worked in childcare for many years warming the hearts of even the most challenging children. When she ran the kitchen for the center, she humorlessly had to remind the teachers to feed the children before themselves. Ty was a natural born leader and mentored many that came to her for advice or even just a shoulder to cry on. She later became a supervisor at the police station for a janitorial team. The station was arguably the cleanest it had ever been. When she retired as a customer service rep for Roadside Assistance, customers wrote in how helpful she was in their time of need.

No matter what happened to Ty in her life, she persevered and remained a kind and loving person. Strong in her faith to the very end. She was a great example of strength and will be missed by many fortunate enough to know her.

She was predeceased by her parents, Sisco E. Barnard Sr, and Gertrude H. Barnard. Her brothers James Anthony Barnard and Gary Keith Barnard. Her beautiful life will be forever cherished in the lives of her daughters: Chavi (Johnathan) Miles of Denver, CO and Valencia (James) Thomas of Norfolk, VA; brother Sisco (Claude) Barnard Jr of New York; sisters Tara (David) Barnard-Williams of New Jersey and Valerie (Henry) Letcher of Florida. Ty was pleased with the friendship she gained from Karen Harris of Suffolk and considered her a sister. She is also survived by her grandson, Christopher, nieces Monique, Tara, Nina and Jordan. Nephews Keith, Andre, Paschal, Diarra, Maxwell, Nicholas, Matthew and a host of other relatives and friends.

*A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

Native American Prayer

I give you this one thought to keep.

I am with you still, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning’s hush,

I am the swift uplifting rush…

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not think of me as gone,

I am with you still, in each new dawn,

-Unknown