Photo by Sara Bennett
Biography
Barbara Yeomans, longtime resident of Fort Myers and passionate supporter of the arts, passed peacefully on January 17, 2026 surrounded by her family. She was 92.
Her remarkable life spanned two continents and eras of profound change. Born in England her childhood was marked by the turbulence of World War II. When her family home in London was bombed, they eventually relocated to the Cotswolds region in south central England.
As a teenager, she excelled in the arts and was awarded an art scholarship, allowing her to pursue a degree in fashion at Cheltenham College of Art. During her studies, she won several design awards and had the privilege of learning under some of the leading artists of the day.
While studying, Barbara met a young American airman, Lawrence Sherrill Yeomans (1930–1985) when he was stationed in England. She immigrated to the United States in 1954, where she married Sherrill and embraced life in Fort Myers, Florida.
Over the decades, she witnessed Fort Myers transform from a small town into a sprawling city, and she played her own part in shaping its artistic identity. While raising a family, Barbara continued to nurture her passion for the arts by volunteering as an arts teacher.
Barbara was an early member of the Alpha Kappas Sorority that raised money for various teenage sponsorship programs and held children’s events in conjunction with the Edison Festival of Light. She volunteered for the cancer society and for many years was the Directress of St. Hilary’s Church Altar Guild. Together with her husband, a commercial printer, Barbara was an early supporter of the Alliance for the Arts in the 1970s. She also played on the local women’s tennis league.
After Sherrill’s sudden passing in 1985, Barbara returned to her own studies, enrolling at Edison Community College to pursue printmaking. She became active with various arts organization such as ArtHouse as a founding board member and Edison Community College’s Gallery.
She was one of the sponsors for the Yoko Ono Imagine Peace exhibition at the Rauschenberg Gallery. In 2018, she was honored as a Grande Dame by the PACE Center for Girls of Lee County, a recognition that celebrated her lifelong commitment to creativity, mentorship, and community service. Most recently, Barbara donated artwork to the Gulf Harbour Country Club’s Lee County Cancer Institute 2026 fundraiser.
Her artwork has been awarded and exhibited in galleries, museums, and arts organizations in the US and abroad. Her practice expanded to include mixed‑media, painting, and a wide range of printmaking techniques. She held several solo exhibitions at galleries such as Sanibel’s Big Arts and the Alliance for the Arts, as well as shows at Broadfoot & Broadfoot Gallery in New York City.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Jean Hawker, and brothers Iain and Norman. She is survived by her son Adam (Lorraine), and daughters Jane (Alex) and Erika (Vitaly). She also is survived by five grandchildren and a great-grandson.
The family extends deep gratitude to family members and friends of Barbara and to the nurses, aides and staff of Hope Hospice and Ocean Care Agency for their loving care for her.
In. Lieu of flowers are asking friends to donate to Alliance of the Arts in honor of Barbara J. Yeomans support for local arts
There will be a Celebration of Life April 22nd 2026 at the Alliance for the Arts 5-7 pm Reception and art show