Jean Edwards Barcroft

Heaven has a new resident as of Sunday, October 18, 2026. Our mom has gone home to be with Jesus!
Jean Edwards Barcroft was born to George Hayden, Sr. and Vena Doree Edwards on September 21, 1940. She lived a little over 86 years on this Earth…..”good years” she said.
She lived all of her life in the counties of Surry and Isle of Wight and was a country girl. She married her high school sweetheart, Dickie, on August 1, 1959 a few months after she graduated from Smithfield High. They were married for almost 44 years. During their marriage, mom was a home maker, secretary, Realtor, and then she and dad started their own construction company which they ran side by side for many years. She and dad neither one had more than a high school education, but they showed us what two people can accomplish with much hard work and determination. They knew how to make a dollar and even more importantly how to stretch one nine ways to Sunday. She was once the owner of a 1966 fire engine red Ford Mustang. She zipped around Smithfield in that car like a kid with a new toy. She was a shrewd business woman, and she’s forgotten more about real estate than most agents will ever know.
Mom was very opinionated. Several people have told us that “if you didn’t want Miss Jean’s opinion then you’d better not ask for it.”
Growing up, mom and dad took us to Hatteras Island, where we spent most of our summers. We camped, fished, made memories, and just enjoyed the quiet beach down there as a family.
When the grandchildren came, mom and dad became the most amazing cheerleaders, following them to all of their games and events.
You could also find mom puttering around in her flower beds in her yard as much as she could be out there. She loved to grow things. She had a green thumb for sure.
She also quilted, tried her hand at basket making, wrote down our family’s genealogy, and canned and froze almost every fruit and vegetable that grows around here. Her homemade sweet pickles were amazing, and thankfully she taught us how to make them!
Mom was known by many names - Jean, Nan, JEB, NeeNee, The Rev, Marge, Inky, and mom. She was an Aunt, Daughter, Niece, Cousin, Wife, Sister, Grandmother, Granddaughter, but most importantly - she was a CHRISTIAN. Her faith in Jesus was something she shared without shame. If you knew mom, then you knew that Jesus was not just a name to her, but He was her savior, her friend, and who she put her trust in. Left to cherish her memory are her son William Hayden (Billy) Barcroft, daughter Robin Barcroft Stiltner (John), grandchildren Haley Elizabeth Stiltner and Hayden Elliott Stiltner (Cassie), and great grandson Shawn Wesley Stiltner. She also has a brother Pete Edwards (Marilyn), sister Betty Crocker (Wilson) deceased, brother Dick Edwards (Marian) both deceased, numerous cousins on both sides of the family, and many nieces and nephews, and greats, too, all of whom she loved dearly.
Family was precious to our mom. She loved keeping in touch with all of them. It’s hard to write an obituary for someone like our mom, because she was the kind of person that touched so many people in her lifetime. There’s not enough space to say all that needs to be said. But. We would like to thank all of you who have asked about mom, called, visited, prayed for us, and showed kindness to us during this time. We would especially like to thank Riverside Hospice for their compassion and to mom’s “ladies” Miss Shirley, Miss Barbara, Emma & Sharnese. We are forever grateful to them for the love and care they’ve shown to us all over the past year. Our family will be meeting at 12006 Modest Neck Road Ivor, VA 23866, the home of John & Robin, between now and the funeral. Instead of sending flowers, we ask that you please make a donation in memory of our mom to Isle of Wight Academy, P. O. Box 105, Isle of Wight, VA 23397. Little’s Funeral Home in Smithfield is in charge of mom’s arrangements. A celebration of mom’s life will be held at Mill Swamp Baptist Church on Saturday, October 24,2026 at 11:00, with a meal and a time of fellowship with all of us in the Family Life Center to follow her burial in the church cemetery.
Hug your people and tell them you love them. Life is short. Make sure you know where you’re going when you die. It’s awfully hot in Hell……
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Online condolences may be registered at www.littlesfuneralhome.com