Be Happy: A Celebration of Life for Barbara J. Yeomans Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | 5–7 p.m. | Alliance for the Arts |10091 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers | Hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served The family of beloved local artist and longtime resident Barbara J. Yeomans is hosting a community celebration of life and art show at the Alliance for the Arts on April 22 from 5-7 p.m. to honor her life. Barbara passed away January 17 at age 92 after a brief illness. Hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served. In keeping with her wishes to “Be Happy,” the event will be a joyful reminder of her vibrant spirit and lifelong commitment to the arts. Guests are encouraged to wear their most colorful attire in her honor. A curated selection of Barbara’s artwork will be on display in the Alliance main gallery and available to purchase. The show was curated by her daughter Erika and Julio Gonzalez Batista, the Alliance’s Gallery and Artist Relations Manager. All proceeds will go to the Alliance to support its ongoing initiatives in arts education and community programming. “Barbara Yeomans was a role model for so many,” said Carolyn Gora, Board President of the Alliance for the Arts. “She lived her life in a way that added vibrancy, heart and purpose to our local community, and the Alliance for the Arts. We are grateful for her involvement as founder, supporter and artist for 50 years.” In conjunction with the celebration, Barbara’s children, Adam, Jane and Erika, are proud to announce an expansion of the Lawrence Sherrill Yeomans Scholarship Fund at Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers. Barbara established the scholarship 40 years ago at then-Edison Community College to help students pursue art studies after her husband Sherrill, a commercial printer and founder of Press Printing Company, passed away suddenly at age 54. The scholarship at Florida SouthWestern will be renamed the L. Sherrill and Barbara J. Yeomans Scholarship Fund and will support students in both the arts and health sciences. Donations can be made at https://foundation.fsw.edu/Yeomans. During her hospice care, Barbara wanted to honor the compassionate professionals who dedicate their lives to hospice and nursing care. One of her final wishes was to create scholarship opportunities for students pursuing nursing and allied health degrees. “For more than four decades, Barbara’s generosity helped open doors for aspiring art students at Florida SouthWestern State College,” said Dr. Geraldine Gallagher, FSW Foundation executive director. “The scholarship, established in memory of Sherrill, and now her, creates a legacy that reflects her belief in and lifelong commitment to education, creativity, and caring for others. Through it, she will continue to inspire and uplift generations of FSW students.” Barbara’s remarkable life spanned two continents and eras of profound change. Born in England, her childhood was shaped by the turbulence of World War II. After her family’s London home ...
