Anita Perry Barlow's Obituary
Anita Perry Barlow (Nita) passed away peacefully on March 18, 2025, in Austin, Texas. Nita was born on December 26, 1934, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Frank Malcolm Perry and Dorothy Eddins Perry. She graduated from Memphis Central High School and Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. Her childhood and young adult years in Memphis served as the foundation for the many lifelong friendships she treasured, including close bonds with members of the Newman Sunday school class at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church.
In 1961, Nita met her future husband, Eddie Evaughn Barlow Jr. (Ed), on a blind date. They fell in love, quickly became engaged and were married on August 4, 1962. Over the next 61 years—until Ed’s passing in 2023—they built a life filled with laughter, love and devotion. Together, they raised four children.
Nita began her career as a high school English teacher. When she and Ed started to raise a family, she stepped away from working outside the home to become a homemaker and English tutor. In the 1980s, she returned to the workforce and began what would become a long and successful career in real estate, earning her Affiliate Broker status and repeated recognition as a member of the Million-Dollar Club. She continued working in real estate into the 2010s.
Nita played many roles throughout her life and always served as a strong advocate for those around her. From a young age, she shared her father’s passion for photography. As a mom, she made home-cooked meals just about every evening and became a skilled seamstress, sewing clothes for her children in their younger years.
Nita found joy in a good game of Scrabble and in writing notes to friends on nice stationery. She had great handwriting, and if you received one of her letters, you knew she put lots of careful and sincere thought into her kind and supportive messages.
Her heart for service was evident in her involvement with various charitable and religious organizations. She was a devoted member of the Maternal Welfare League of Memphis, Le Bonheur Club, Inc. and United Methodist Women (now United Women of Faith), where she served as director of the St. Luke’s United Methodist Women’s Reading Program.
Nita is survived by her son, Lee Barlow; her daughter, Lynn Barlow; her son, Chris Barlow (Jennifer); and her daughter, Beth Barlow (Mick Peters). She is also survived by her sisters, Virginia Armacost and Anne Ramer, and leaves behind many friends, extended family members and loved ones who will always remember her kindness, enthusiasm and quest for fairness.
Visitation will be held at Memorial Park Funeral Home on Saturday, May 3, from noon to 2:00 p.m., followed by a service at 2:00 and interment of Nita and Ed’s ashes.
The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Parmer Woods North Austin for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, donations in Nita’s memory may be made to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Memphis.
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