Florence Aida Barrera McArthur

Born in Italy in 1953, named after the city of her birth - Florence (and don't you DARE call her Flo) Aida Barrera McArthur passed away on March 4, 2026, in her home, with her daughter, after a very brief battle with cancer.

Visitation with the family will begin at 11 am, followed by a memorial service at 12 pm, on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at Eclectic Methodist Church with Rev. Steven Spining officiating. Burial will be Monday, March 16, 2026 at 12:30 pm CST in Fort Mitchell National Cemetery.

Florence was preceded in death by her husband Mac, her parents Ernesto and Claire Barrera, her older brother Pete Barrera and his wife Barbara, and her younger sister Bebe Jones.

She is survived by her daughter, Janet Jacob; her son-in-law Will; her beloved grandson Noah - so many wonderful nieces and nephews on both her side and Mac's, grandnieces and grandnephews; close friends and sweet neighbors, and a church family so hugely appreciated and valued that words cannot express it.

Born to help people, she was a social worker for most of her adult life - countless families in central Alabama are better for her knowledgeable mind and fierce heart. Florence was dedicated to her church and her Emmaus/Chrysalis communities for decades, and her impact there will be felt for decades more. Her love of Jesus and (all of) His people shaped her interactions and left beautiful impressions on everyone she encountered. (unless you called her Flo..)

Being an Army "brat" who then married an Army man, she was fortunate enough to live a life that took her all over our gorgeous planet. Choosing Eclectic as their retirement location, however, may have been the best decision Florence and Mac ever made.

Unique and immensely intelligent, she loved circus peanut candy and black jelly beans the best. She got every. single. answer. correct when watching Jeopardy. You've probably never met anyone as well-read as Florence - devouring book after book after book so fast the library couldn't keep up. Her chicken n dumplins are legendary. She was quick to laugh and loved making everyone around her laugh. She was such a devoted wife that she won Military Spouse of the Year once. She was a Pinterest mom before it existed, making every birthday party and holiday memorable and perfect. Consistently involved in her daughter's life - chaperone of a hundred field trips, Girl Scout Leader extraordinaire, awesome Halloween costume designer, long-suffering chauffeur, and patient beyond belief. Florence never let her family wonder whether she adored them; she made sure they knew every day.

Her favorite flowers were irises, but if flowers aren't your thing, please make donations in her honor to the Horseshoe Bend Library in Dadeville or the Elmore County Black History Museum in Wetumpka.

And always remember to brake for butterflies.

Memories and messages of condolences for the family may be shared at www.linvillememorial.com.

Linville Memorial Funeral Home and Crematory
Eclectic, Alabama