Nola Vivian Barham-Benton, IL

Nola Vivian Barham, 98, of Benton, passed away at 1:06 a.m., on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at Stonebridge Nursing Home and Rehab in Benton, IL, surrounded by her family,

She was born on December 19, 1927, to Charles and Bertha (Smith) Kinkade in Roland, IL. Nola was one of 12 siblings, and was the last sibling of all of her 11 brothers and sisters to pass away. For years, Nola worked as a Sales Clerk for Walmart. On June 14, 1947, she married Joe Barham at East Benton Baptist Church, and her preceded her in death on July 7, 1996.

She was a devoted Southern Baptist and was a charter member of Immanuel Baptist Church. Nola was instrumental in launching the Sunday School program at IBC, which is still thriving strong even today and she also enjoyed being a Children’s Sunday School teacher at the church.

Nola was a loving mother and grandmother. Volunteering was important to Nola, from tutoring students at Benton Middle School to helping make lunches for the Summer Lunch Program at the Benton West City Ministerial Alliance. She enjoyed traveling, especially her trips to Hawaii, Paris, Germany and Rome. She also loved baking her delicious banana bread and tending to her flower gardens.

She is survived by her loving children, Susan J. Barham and Brad Barham and her grandchildren, Jason and Michelle Sears and their children, Zachary (Samatha), Austin and Haley and Kimberly Walters and her children, Canaan, Ashlynn and Benjamin and a great-great grandchild, Jaeger Thomas, cousin, Elizabeth Gulley, sister-in-law, Jane Kinkade, and several nieces and nephews.

She is preceded by her parents, Charles Leland and Bertha Mae Kinkade, her husband, Joe Barham and her brothers and sisters, Dorothy Kinkade-Sertl, Charles L. (Juanita) Kinkade, Sylvia Kinkade, Daisy (Howard) Kinkade-Simpson, Virginia (Joseph) Kinkade-Muscat, Eloise (Henry) Kinkade-Stob, Benjamin (Dorothy) Kinkade, Gilbert (Ann Mae) Kinkade, Noble (Jane) Kinkade, Nolan Kinkade and Jerry (Sharon) Kinkade.

Services have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home and Crematory, 301 South Main Street, Benton, IL.

Visitation will be held Monday, March 23, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL.

Funeral services will be held directly after the visitation on Monday, March 23, 2026, at 12:00 p.m., at Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL, with Pastor Ryan Mulvaney, officiating.

Following the funeral service, burial will take place in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton, IL.

Memorials may be made to Tunnel to Towers-T2T or to Samaritan’s Purse and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com.