Barbara Lee Cheever

Barbara (Barb) Lee Mitchell Cheever was born March 17, 1941, in Lexington, Kentucky to Willie and Willa Lee Mitchell. Barbara grew up in the coal mining city of Logan, West Virginia and graduated from Aracoma High School with honors. Barbara was a member of the school marching band and several other organizations in the school. Barbara united in marriage on December 17, 1960, to Robert Cheever Jr. To that union there are three children: Robert Anthony, Beverly Dorene and Shakti Om Shanti. Barbara received the Lord as her savior and was baptized at an early age. She was a faithful member of Christ Memorial Missionary Baptist Church, in Columbus, Ohio, and attended Sunday services regularly, until recently. Barbara was a nurturing soul. She loved and spoiled her husband, children, and fur babies. That compassion expanded, and she became a medical assistant for doctors in private practice. Subsequently, Barbara earned her Licensed Vocational Nursing degree from The Ohio State University and practiced Emergency Room nursing at what is now known as Nationwide Children’s Hospital. In 1988 Barbara’s nursing career took a turn. Barbara gave up her job to provide round the clock care to her ailing mother. In an effort to keep her mind active, Barbara’s ‘Sweet Tooth’ for baking took center stage. That hobby quickly grew into a home-based cake designing business and then a commercial store. ‘The Cake Lady’ became the proprietor of Ultimate + Plus Bridal Shop of Columbus, Ohio. Mrs. Cheever’s message was to make ALL Brides, including the plus size bride feel supported and special! Barbara’s creativity was multifaceted, and she excelled in numerous expressions: beautiful scrumptious cakes, full service wedding planning, crafting custom jewelry, vegetable and flower gardening, breeding aquarium fish, outdoor grilling, gospel music and the blues! Lastly, landscaping her own backyard into tranquil outdoor spaces which she called ‘Paradise on Earth’! It was the meet and greet locale for family, friends and neighbors. Mrs. Cheever was the consummate hostess! Robert and Barb were also national RV road warriors. They are charter members of the Ohio Chapter (Buckeye Roadrunners) of the NAARVA/National African American RV Association where Robert served as treasurer. On July 11, 2021, God dispatched his angel to escort Barb to her heavenly home. Barbara Lee Cheever was preceded in death by her parents Reverend and Mrs. E.C. Gardner; Grandmother: Mattie Hunter; Uncle: Uncle Thomas (Savannah, GA); Aunt: Mary Washington (Lexington, KY). She leaves to cherish her memory: husband Robert Cheever Jr.; son: Robert A. Cheever (Columbus, OH); daughters: Beverly D. Cheever (Columbus, OH) and Shakti O. Shanti (San Francisco, CA); granddaughters: Charita Cheever (Tampa, FL), Charmain Cheever (Columbus, OH); three great grands: Braelyn, Damian, Lexington; brother and sister in laws; Leslie and Shirley Chever (Columbus, OH), George and Adele Brownlee (Riverdale Park, MD); sister cousins: Carol Hardin, Theresa Hardin (Lexington, KY) and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.