01/18/2026
The icon. The matriarch. The legacy.
My grandmother, Barbara Jean Bingham AKA “Bams” passed away late Friday evening after 94 years of life. And even though I’ve had plenty of time to mentally prepare for this moment, it is still difficult to comprehend the tremendous loss.
After experiencing a stroke in her sleep Wednesday night, Bams was brought to Cone Health and placed on comfort care, blissfully unaware. She had always been adamant about being DNR - a decision which my family fully supported. We got to say goodbye just a few hours before she officially passed. Thank you Danny for taking the beautiful photo of our last moment together.
A little about Bams…
Bams was my role model for many years. A true “rebel”, she was fiercely independent and hated being told what to do. My father would say “she marched to the beat of her own drum.” She loved dancing, telling stories, and being the life of the party. She wore heels and would rarely leave the house without fixing her hair and makeup. She was street smart AND book smart. She lived alone and still drove up until her last day.
Bams enjoyed sipping wine and Chivas whiskey, and was known for her good old-fashioned country cooking and sweet tea.
She was passionate about animals, and had a soft spot for strays and underdogs. And while she wasn’t known to be the most affectionate in the physical sense, Bams was highly intuitive and had a unique way of making everyone around her feel included and important. She enjoyed spending time with her family, friends and neighbors.
Bams had 3 children: Steve; John (deceased 2013); and Bobbie Lynn (deceased 2020). Bams is survived by her oldest son (my father Steve) and her grandchildren (me and my older brother Chris.)
What a blessing it is to have known and be loved by Bams. I will miss her deeply. But now it’s time to celebrate her life - because that’s what she would’ve wanted.
Rest in peace, Barbara Jean Bingham
10/02/1931 - 1/16/2026
*If you knew Bams, please feel free to share a story or memory about her in the comments. My family and I would love to read them 🫶