Obituary for Barbara D. Hollingsworth
Published in Charlotte Observer
on Jan. 19, 2018.  Barbara Dale Hollingsworth, 72, whose passion for education
and justice drove her to success in teaching, coaching and law, died
January 15, 2018, after a multi-year battle with cancer. After completing
law school at Campbell College, Barbara came to Cabarrus County to practice
in 1983. In the late '80s, she opened her own law firm in Concord, one of
few women, if not the only one, in solo practice at the time. Though only
5-foot-3 and soft-spoken in everyday life, she had a wry wit and formidable
presence when advocating for clients and causes. Specializing in family
law, personal injury and worker's compensation, Barbara was passionate
about serving people in need, especially women facing divorce, child
custody, domestic violence and child support. Barbara also took a deep
interest in the community, from being an early volunteer and longtime
financial contributor to CVAN, the battered women's shelter, to taking a
longtime leadership role at Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church. Born
January 19, 1945, to Maurine and James "Pete" Hollingsworth, Barbara grew
up with an older sister, Lillian, on the family's cotton farm near Oak
Grove, La. After high school (salutatorian), she earned a bachelor's in
physical education at Louisiana Tech, a master's in the same field at
Louisiana State and a doctorate in education at Florida State. She became
Florida State's first women's basketball coach when she started a club team
that played other schools in 1970-71. After Florida State, she taught
physical education and coached women's basketball for eight years at Mars
Hill College, where she was also the school's first women's athletic
director. When inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 1993, she was the
winningest basketball coach (men or women) in school history. After making
law review at Campbell and graduating in 1983, Barbara went on to practice
law until 2008. She represented a wide range of clients out of offices in
Concord and Harrisburg, ran for district court judge, became a certified
mediator and served as executive director of the Children's Law Center in
Charlotte. Barbara and Pauline M. Tulson became life partners in 2000 and
were married in Washington, D.C., in 2014, before gay marriage was legal in
N.C. They had a rich life together, visiting their families, watching
sports events, traveling the world and enjoying their beloved felines,
Buddy-the-Cat and Flash. Barbara is survived by Pauline; her nephew Randy
Lee (Georgette); nieces Kali, Madi and Christie and their families; and
cousins Gena Dickinson, Mary Mills and many, many more cousins. The family
expresses heartfelt thanks to Dr. J. Stuart Salmon, nurse Patty Vanderplow
and the rest of the staff at the Levine Cancer Institute's University
location. Heartfelt thanks also go to Palliative Care of Levine Cancer
Institute; Hospice & Palliative Care, Charlotte Region; and family, friends
and neighbors who have supported Barbara and Pauline through Barbara's
illness.
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