Barbara Ann Wernersbach, 59 of Ocala, Florida, was called home by her Lord on May 30th, 2026. Her final days were spent surrounded by her loving friends and family. She will be sorely missed by her family, friends, and church.

Barbara was born in Clearwater, Florida on September 4th, 1966, to Richard Jefferson, Sr. and Patricia Jefferson (Bercaw). Raised in Citrus County by her father, she grew up at Bible Baptist Church, Crystal River, Florida, under the ministry of Pastor Thomas Reaves, Sr. Her childhood and formative years were marked by a love of family, church, and cats. Her favorite memories from this period of her life centered around family get-togethers, an activity that she continued to cherish as an adult.

Barbara graduated from Citrus High School in 1984 and later graduated from Central Florida Community College (CFCC) with dual degrees as a legal secretary and medical secretary. In 1992, she married the love of her life, Matthew Alan Wernersbach, who she met at CFCC. With her love for typing and the experience she gained as a summer temporary employee, Barbara embarked on a clerical career as a secretary with Citrus County. Over a 14-year tenure, she applied her education, experience, and people skills to positions in the county’s Employee Relations Department and the Parks and Recreation Department, eventually rising to the position of Administrative Assistant.

Her rewarding career was shortened by medical complications arising from an automobile accident, but this freed her up to focus on her true ministry in life, caring for other people. As she and her husband raised their beloved daughter Erica, Barbara busied herself with tending to the physical and emotional needs of family and elderly friends. Over the years, her extended family gained numerous “Mamas” and “Dads” who sometimes had no children of their own to care for them. Whether she was taking them to doctor appointments, cooking dinner for them, or just listening to their stories of the old days, Barbara made sure they knew that she was there for them. As her own health declined, her husband Matt lovingly insisted that she “stop taking in strays” and start taking better care of herself. During her life, she benefited from the love and support of the dear lady friends who she adopted as her “sisters”, winning the love of several cherished “nieces” and “nephews” in the process.

Another of Barbara’s true joys was serving as a teacher’s assistant in the children's Sunday School classes at her church home, Berean Baptist Church. True to her nature as a servant, she was happiest when supporting the teacher and helping the children with their lessons. In addition to sharing her love with the children, this gave Barbara an outlet for one of her other passions, arts & crafts. Barbara loved sewing, drawing, and scrapbooking. In addition to her craft supplies, she leaves behind a legendary collection of colored pens and pencils.

Barbara had a love for travel and for visiting new places, and while she never quite learned how to pack light, she enjoyed accompanying her husband on business trips whenever she was able. Her favorite parts of the travel adventure were relaxing in hotel rooms and experiencing new restaurants. At the invitation of her sister, she and her husband embarked on a couple of cruises in her later years. She often said that while she enjoyed touring foreign ports, her favorite parts of the experience were the dinners and the shows.

Barbara is survived by her husband Matthew, their daughter Erica Leigh Wernersbach, her sisters Melissa Hinkson and Denise Cole, brother Richard Jefferson, Jr., and numerous beloved nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by parents Richard Sr. and Patricia.

Funeral arrangements are scheduled for Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Berean Baptist Church, 4800 SW 20th Street, Ocala Florida. A private viewing for family will be held at 1:30 PM, and a public viewing will be held at 2:00 PM, with the memorial service scheduled for 3:00 PM.