In Memory of Barbara Jean Harrington
Spouse: Martin Harrington
Children: Stephen, Mary Therese, Jonathan
DOB: August 23, 1938
Blessing: August 10, 2015
Ascension: April 21, 2026
Seonghwa Ceremony:
April 27, 2026 10:00 AM CDT at 9255 Natural Bridge Road, Saint Louis, Missouri United States 63134
GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/a477358e0
Barbara was born on August 23, 1938 to Paul and Dorothy Harting. She was the 3rd child in a family of 6 children. Being raised a devout Catholic with two of her brothers who were Catholic priests, religion was an important part of her early life. When Barb graduated from high school, she immediately began a two year course of training to become a nurse at the Jewish Hospital Nurses School. Upon graduating, Barb worked in the delivery section of the hospital, working in the delivery room to assist mothers during delivery of their babies.
During this time period at the age of 21, Barb was married to Martin Harrington at Corpus Christi Church in St. Louis. She gave birth to 3 children, Steve, Mary and Jonathan. In 1969, at the age of 31 Barbara joined the Unified Family in St. Louis together with her sister Kathy Rigney. From 1969 until 1981, Barbara worked with the St. Louis Church witnessing and fundraising and supporting the Church mission. Her husband however, was quite negative towards the Unification Church especially as he gained position in society eventually becoming the President of the Royal Banks of Missouri in St. Louis. Finally, Barbara and her husband Martin were divorced in 1981 and at the end of that year, Barbara went to join the mission in Africa where her sister was working.
Upon being divorced, she was given a settlement of $20,000 by her husband as a result of divorce proceedings. Barbara sold all her possessions, took the $20,000 and proceeded to join the mission in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. Her sister Kathy, who was the National leader of Cote d'Ivoire Church at that time, asked Barbara to use that $20,000 to start a restaurant American style called Hamburger House. Barbara had never done that before but realising the importance of finding a financial foundation for the mission she did her best and eventually that Hamburger House restaurant multiplied into 3 restaurants in Cote d'ivoire, another in Togo, another in Ghana, another in Senegal and finally another one in DR Congo.
These restaurants were very popular and supported the missions very well. When her sister Kathy was moved by WMD from Cote d'Ivoire to Nigeria, Barbara went with her and eventually opened three restaurants in Lagos, Nigeria to support the Nigerian mission. Barbara never kept these restaurants for herself, even though the original capital came from her. She donated everything to the mission in these African nations. When Barbara had to leave Africa in 2001 due to health concerns with her heart, she left with nothing - not one cent to her name after giving everything she had to the African providence. Barbara sacrificed tremendously during these 20 years, leaving behind her three children with her husband, and thereby received tremendous persecution from her physical family.
When she came home to the USA in 2001, two of her three children passed away due to difficult life situations and this truly broke her heart. She continued to travel back and forth to Africa when there was a need to help until 2023, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. In 2024, this cancer had finally spread to her liver, lungs, heart, bones and brain. Barbara was always a steadfast supporter not only of our beloved True Parents but also of her younger sister Kathy's mission, offering her support behind the scenes, never seeking the spotlight, and faithfully giving everything to our beloved True Father and God's precious Only Begotten Daughter, our treasured Holy Mother Han.
Until her last breath, Barbara tried to overcome her illness, with her only desire being to live to see the liberation of our True Mother from the cruel detention. Barbara participated every morning at the Cheon Shim Won vigil online from Korea, and shed endless tears longing to be useful to our Heavenly Parent. Finally, she had an amazing dream where she saw herself pass away and go to the CSW in the spiritual world. When she entered the CSW, our True Father was standing there and he cried, "BARBARA I'm so very happy to see you," and gave a loving fatherly embrace to welcome her home.
GoFundMe Link
Where to send flowers
Put it to the attention of Ceremony for Barbara Harrington at the address: 9255 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63134.
If you'd like to donate in honor of Barbara's legacy and to support the African Missions, consider a donation to the Kevin Winter Foundation at https://www.kevinwinterfoundation.org/
