SC4 Devotion Forum Archives

I have some unfortunate news for the SC4 community :'(
I am quoting a post made on her facebook page.

"Hello. I'm Geoff, Barb's brother. I'm sorry to have to say that she has passed away in hospital on the morning of Tuesday 17th March.
Barbara died peacefully, in no pain,and will be sorely missed.
Apologies for this method of notification but I don't have individual friends addresses.
My email is (edited out)
Kind regards."

Barby will be missed by many, many people, she thought me so much! It was a pleasure to meet her and we had some really good laughs.

Rest in Peace Barby

Derry.

That's very sad news. I didn't know her much, but I know the great job she did here and for the SC4 community. Her presence will be missed by all.

Rest in Peace Barby.

I saw that on her Facebook and what a shock I had. She was a very fine lady and I'm really sorry I could not have met her in person. But we had spent many hours chatting and she was kind of my mentor when I first became a BSC member. She taught me almost everything I know about modding/lotting SC4. I will surelly miss her a lot. :(
Rest in peace Barbara

A very sad day indeed, my sympathies to her family

I'm really, really sorry to hear that. It's impossible to imagine the SC4 community without the impact she made. In the short time I was able to work with her she was a kind, talented and dedicated person. I count myself lucky for that and for all the other ways I've benefited from her works. She'll be greatly missed.

She was indeed a great person. What she did to the SC4 community will not be forgotten.

May you rest in piece, Barby.

That's very sad to hear. Her contribution to the SC4 community will certainly not be forgotten and we all benefited from the work she did.

Terribly sad :(

Words fail me.

I wasn't able to get to know her, but I saw her impact all over the site and the community.
RIP. For what it's worth, my condolences to her friends (on this site and elsewhere) and family.

Very sad. RIP Barby and Thanks for all your work and dedication.

I am so sorry to hear this. I never got to know her personally, but I do recall her name popping up in this community a lot. Very sad news.

This is so sad. :'( My warmest condolences. We will all keep you in memory, Barby.

In the early days of Sc4, Simtropolis and this site Barbara was a good friend of mine. We worked together on a number of things for BSC. We used to talk a lot via MSN those days. She was a wonderful person and I hope she will rest in peace. I will miss you Barbara.  :(

She sure will be missed.

Rest in peace.

Barby will surely be missed, not only by myself but so many others. I don't think it would be presumptuous to say that her work in this community has had a great, positive effect on all of us in on way or another. Rest in peace.

Very sad news, my warmest condolences to Barby's friends and family :(

A really sad new indeed. I feel sad and shocked. A bad day today  :(  ()sad()

I read this on Facebook first thing this morning and have spent the rest of the morning in a stunned fog. Barby's knowledge of the game and her willingness to share that knowledge and help others were already legendary when I originally joined Simtropolis way back. She helped me countless times when I was beginning to BAT and taught me so much. It was Barby who first invited me to join the BSC... an invitation which had more impacts than I ever imagined. Not only the impacts it had on my involvement with SC4, but major impacts on even my "outside" life. Joining this site, meeting the online friends I've made, even the places I've traveled, and consequently meeting some of those online friends in person, all grew from that invitation.

We used to chat quite a bit on MSN in the early days. I was fortunate enough to meet Barby in person several times. She was just as amazing outside the SC4 community as she was inside of it. We shared many laughs together and had some great times. I'll miss her very much.  ()sad()

Really sad to see this, Barby was such a great person, especially in the early days of BSC and Simtropolis. We came from broadly the same geographical area if I recall (she was from Chester, UK originally while I was from a few miles North). It was great chatting with her about Chester of yesteryear ect.

Condolences to her family and friends.

RIP, ma'am.  You started as an SC4 idol of mine and wound up a true friend.  So, so sad to hear of your passing, but now we know that there'll be lotting in heaven.


David

Sad to hear this information. My condolences to her family and friends...

But like dedgren said: there´ll be lotting in heaven. RIP, Barby!

I count myself fortunate that when I finally stopped lurking all those years ago, Barby was still a very active member of this site, she was always willing to help and seemed to know pretty much everything there was to know re the game and while I never met her in RL we did exchange the odd PM over the years.

RIP Barby and condolences to her family and friends

-Cathy

She will be missed indeed.  :(

I was just wondering about her last week. I didn't know her personally, but as everyone can tell you she had a huge role in the modding community, especially in its formative years. Even though she hasn't been as active recently, her influence has been felt in so much custom content content, made, and despite her passing, yet to be made.

This is shocking news!

It was just a couple of years ago that she was very active. Sure she had health problems and had to use a wheelchair, but I never thought she would pass away so soon.

Rest In Peace Barby. You will be greatly missed, and we will always remember you.

I'm sad that you went, but grateful that I met you here.
My sincere condolences to friends and family of Barby.

There were tears rolling down my cheeks as I made this post earlier.

I'm sorry to be the one who broke the news. I (and many others) lost a friend today.

The amount of messages both here and on other social media sites testify to an incredible lady. A wonderful person with Intregrity, Charisma, Humour, Patience, A Love of teaching (And watching a clod like me finally understand how to mod a game), sharing witty banter and Risque Jokes!!!

I'll Miss you!
TTC

extending sincerest condolences to her entire family & friends...  :crytissue:

she had an impact that inspired thousands...  &idea

grace keep her in good peace...  :wings:


Jack

« Sorry seems to be the hardest word »

Oh , Barbara ... so true . Sorry for my casualness . :(

She was the first person from the community I dared to contact , needing advices , ten years ago and it was so obvious that it had to be her ... She has been very kind , helpful , enthusiastic ... and I know I disappointed her later when I declined his invitation to join the  BSC Team . What did I say then ; "not enough time" or something like ? Well , the truth is that she was so demanding ( and self-demanding ) and rigorous than I feared to be not up to his standards while the BSC Team was already a moribund she tried to keep alive come hell or high water ; I remember perfectly all conflicts  at Simtropolis , then Simpeg ... Now the story is over .

For sure there was and there is still plenty of talented BATers , MODers and LOTers but Barbara was , is and will be forever the most SC4 devoted and influential personality  . Kind of things we can fully see only when it's too late . Goodbye Lady Barbara Winterton .

so sad.

My heartfelt apologies from myself and all of the NAM team. Losing one of our most dedicated members and wonderful modders, you will surely be missed.  :crytissue:

Your legacy will live on with the creations that you have created! I had never had contact with you but I know you where a special part of SC4D and the SimCity world in general.

As for the Queen on SC4D this is a massive loss. You will be remembered! Heartfelt condolences to you, your family and friends.

-eggman121/ Stephen

I think this past Tuesday,
a part of SC4 devotion passed on  &cry2

You will be so, so ,..missed from this community Barb..  :'(

My heart goes out to her family, those in the community who are saddened by the news, and myself..

Tough evening for all us here..

Brian

wow ... the sc4 community has lost a legend, she will be badly missed. RIP.

I think it goes without saying that Barby's contributions to this site and the whole SC4 community are without parallel.  She was an absolutely integral part of this place.  I had the pleasure of getting to know her over the past 8 years as a friend and colleague, both as a fellow staff member and content creator.  She had an amazing sense of humor, and I'll always remember our MSN chats fondly.  I'm still in shock that she's gone--I'm getting a bit choked up myself now.  My condolences to the whole Winterton family--we lost an amazing woman today.

-Alex

Never gets easier hearing we've lost a valued member of the community.  Rest in peace; and my condolences.

I'm very saddened to learn of Barby's passing. She was a truly talented custom content creator and a highly skilled player of SC4, whose work no doubt inspired many a player and whose dedication allowed others to become skilled modders themselves.
On top of that, she was one of the most respected members on all of the forums, and rightly so. The community will not quite be the same without her, but we can at least console ourselves with the fact that her legacy will live on forever in her many wonderful creations.

Needless to say, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to Barby's family and friends. I think I speak for the entire SC4D community when I say that our thoughts are with you all.

- Chris

Derry text me tonight of this shocking news. It is very sad news indeed and very unbelievable. If not for Barbara the game as we know it would not be where it is today. She influenced so many with her knowledge and even though her level of expectation was through the roof for doing modding correctly, it was for all good reasons.....the love of the game. I for one learnt a lot from her and enjoyed the man chats we had. She will be missed by me and many others.
My condolences to her family and friends. May she rest in peace and with God.


Robin

Over the years, Barby has helped and advised countless SC4D members. The fledgling NUTs-team members were among the fortunate folks who benefited from her counseling, and I will be forever in her debt. Now she is gone, but will never be forgotten.
Rest in peace my dear friend and mentor.

Words fail me, I cannot believe that she has passed.

Barby was the one who invited me to the BSC all those years ago (when we all chatted on instant MSN for hours and hours!).

To me, she was, and still is, this game.

There are few people who knew so much, who helped and mentored so many so tirelessly. She was always there to share knowledge, honesty and a wise craic. There are only a few people who have been as selfless and as influential as she was (and that is saying something in a community of many great people). My sincerest condolences to her family and many, many friends.

Barby, I will miss you dearly.

R.I.P., Goddess....

No words can describe the huge hole Barby's passing has left... My dear friend, to whom I owe so much, I just wish we could have saddled up for one last time. You inspired me to pick up the BAT and run, which changed the course of my life immensely, something I never really realised until just now.

Farewell Goddess, teacher, mentor, mother, fighter.... Friend

The queen of Simcity4 has passed away.
Sorry for the loss, sorry for a good teacher. May she rest in peace.

My sincere condolences to her family and friends.

She was also a great inspiration for me, she taught many aspects of modding in SC4 and helped me in some creations I did for SC4Devotion as like Plaza Mall and many other content, which influenced later over my professional life.

-Eblem

I am shocked by this sad news.

My contact with her was brief and spaced in time, but enough to see how good person she was. We shall remember her and the legacy she leaves in SC4 (community).

My very sincere condolences to all relatives and friends.

- Carlos

I can see now on the home page a link to this thread, thank you to whom had that idea. I would like as well that from now on on the 17th March we all could  remember this day to honor this incredible lady, perhaps marking this event on the calendar (like birthdays) and leave some words of praise on her memory. I think she would love that!!

So sad to hear this.

She was the one who taught me the little I did in modding...too soon I stopped working on SC4 stuff. A missed opportunity probably.
I'll always remember her as the helpful, friendly and hardworking mentor she was.

My sincerest condolences to friends and family. Farewell Goddess!

Sad news. Though I've never been in direct contact with her, her numerous posts taught me a great deal as well. My condolences to her family and friends.

This is really sad news. For me it was a pleasure to interact with her. Her contributions to the SC4 community are a legacy not to be forgotten. Rest in peace, Barby.

()sad()

This is a heartbreaking loss for me and for the community as a whole.  Barby truly had a talent.  I will certainly never forget her.

My sincere condolences to her family and all who had known her. I never talk with her but learned quite a lot of things reading her posts and tutorials.

This is one of the most saddest things I have heard in this community. Barby was one of my ( and everyone elses) oldest friends here on SC4D and ST. She has been so much creative and useful with her ideas, mods for simcity and help on almost anything on this site, that she will be greatly missed. Like Rayden said, this should become a remembering date for this site.  :(

May you rest in Peace now BarbyW, we will always remember you.

Fred

I'm very sorry ... condolences.
Even if I'm new ...

Despite having exchanged only one post was easy to recognize their empathy and all his good will with all that means  provide their knowledge of the game and following readings of your old posts also realize how important was his activity within the community .


My condolences to family and all who were more next

Heh, two of my first six PM responses here were from her and both were kind and patient responses to fairly silly questions :D  It's good to remember how helpful she was to the newest members as well as to the most experienced and dedicated.

Barby has been a great influence in the SC4 community and she will be missed, though she will live on in the hearts of the SC4 community.

One of the finest people I've ever known. Her dedication to this game and the community was a big part of what kept me playing SC4 for so long.

Thank you Barby.

Wow, this is really shocking and sad news.  With all the modding, lotting, tutorial writing and organizing Barby has done for people (much of it behind the scenes), she has probably left more of an imprint on the on the SC4 community than anyone else.  I never met her in real life, but have interacted with her at the BSC site and in PMs.  Looking back, she impresses me as a very spirited person with a passion for bringing content excellence to the community, but who also loved to have fun and crack a joke.  I'm only realizing now how much she really was The Goddess.  RIP Barby.

Since I didn't really know Barby while I've been active here on this forum, (I only knew about her from seeing some of her posts and her contributions to content on the LEX) I really couldn't sympathize or relate to you very much because I never really had this sort of experience myself. But this morning, our family's dog just died unexpectedly. :( What a terrible way to begin a Friday! I won't go into too many details, but my point is that now I understand how much it must hurt to have someone close to you die. You have my deepest sympathies and condolences; now I can really understand what you're going thru.

She was a giant among the SC4 community, and she will be greatly missed by this 'family'.  My condolences to all her friends and family.

She was a pillar of this community, of the BSC, and gave freely of herself, her energy, to others. I can only echo what has already been said by others. She left her mark on the game, this site, and people. She will be missed.
-Matt

It's taken a few days for this to sink in and now I can really say how much I'll miss Barbara.

I am so sorry to have been the one to break this news and you can see the effect this has had on people.

BarbyW's legacy will live on through the effect she has had in the SC4 community with her wonderful lotting work, her efforts to promote the community, her patience, her skill in passing on knowledge, in solving and creating wonderful mods,lotting and just been in love with a game.

I remember my first personal message to BarbyW. 

I was scared, did I use the right words? was I(such a novice at the time) been presumptuous? Would she even read my pm? this is like going up to the President or King or Queen and saying .... "Can you do this for me please?"

I asked her if she would be so kind as to make a lot for me to put in my village at the time.

I was shocked by her initial reply it was "No!"

I panicked for a bit because I though I was been rude.

But 30 seconds later I got another reply " I won't make it for you , but I'll show you how"

I was never so happy to go back to school, I learned so much from this wonderful lady!!! I ended up getting  some of my work on the LEX ( what a proud day that was) though after many,many rejections  ;D 

I learned how to make a lot properly (before the days of PIM-X), make an installer, make a read me , test, break my lots, fix the problems etc! "This was wrong, that was wrong, you need to do this and how many times .... and the inevitable ...... "I give up", "Oh come on, I've explained this to so so many times" and then the Eureka moment!!!

And I can see it now, the smile on her face when she knew I got it!

And the very first Lot I ever uploaded anywhere generated a reply from her (within an hour) that makes me smile to this day.
She was so proud of me, it still makes me choke up!

I'll miss you Babara

Derry

I just went through some of the chats I had with her on MSN, we used to spend hours talking to each other. We talked about anything, work, SC4, modding, ourselves, even cycling, she and her husband loved cycling. I remember we arguing about Lance Armstrong, cheering for Evans. We also use to exchange opinions about this and that member at Devotion, possible candidates for the BSC team, scrutinizing works. For example when Kelis first presented his work, she asked me to help because she couldn't explain in Spanish what he should do properly to have his bat on the LEX, and she knew I was good with that language, while she could only order "una cerveza por favor". I laugh a lot when she wrote that.
I really miss now our late night chats on MSN and later on Facebook, and all the time we spent trying to outcome each other on Farmville and Cafe World.

Thank you Barbara for being my friend. Rest in peace dear Goddess.

My deepest and most sincere condolences go to her family.
Her fine work will live on in the digital world forever.

You will be missed Barby.

Oh my... I can't believe I'm reading this. I won't pretend I knew the woman personally--the closest I got to that was receiving the DVD from her and a reprimand for being rude to another poster several years ago--but the community without a doubt would not be where it is today without her.

May she rest in peace, and may her friends and family find it.

I know I said it on Facebook but I want to say I've been sadden the loss of Barby... May she rest in peace and be with the lord now!

Sorry to be so rude, but I had a bad experience with her on ST.
I make my first lot with custom texture and upload it to the STEX (2005), after some hours she leave me a comment requiring an IID range, so I contact her on the Forum to obtain it, but no one reply me. I repeat the request after some days with no luck. So I abandoned the SC4 customization for some years.
But despite this I was very sad that a pillar of this community dissapeared.

My condolences to the family and friends.

Vincenzo

So sorry to hear this sad news.    Barby was so knowledgeable about everything SimCity.    I will definitely miss her.   

I could never be enough thankful for what she teached me...

Very sad to read this! Condolences to friends and family.


Cheers
Willy

I just discovered this sad news today. I have always admired her creations starting back in the day on ST, and she was the reason I joined SC4D.  I have read all the wonderful comments and agree that she really was the Queen of SC4! RIP Barby. May your legacy last for many years.

Very sad to read that. She was always nice with me and encourage me to upgrade my work.

Condolences to friends and family. Never forget what you did for me . Thanks and rest in

peace.

I just stumbled back into SC4D and saw this sad news.

Barby was one of the greats in the SC4 custom content community. She knew it all with a passion for lot building and getting the specs right. I still recall creating, what I thought, was a brilliant FLW house and her showing me it on a lot with people twice the size of the house. Ooops.

She was  great teacher to us all, and a great moderator when Colin was angry (at anyone, or everyone) and something in the BSC needed to be guided in the right direction.

I hope she enjoyed her last days in her peaceful corner of the French countryside.

I know this is a little late, but I just now found out about this.
I've been gone for a while, just now picking up the news, going ons, and unfortunately - I ran across events like this.

I don't know what to say...

We had our disagreements from time to time, I was young, hotheaded, and impatient - eventually that attitude got me intro trouble, and as such we never spoke again. But before things went sour, we had some great conversations, she had a great sense of humour, she had a helpful spirit, and was always kind the times we spoke on Windows live/MSN.
Like many others have stated, she was an asset to the community, not only through lotting and modding, but all the help she provided for other people to get started,teaching through conversations, or publishing highly useful tutorials. Her dedication was second to none.

Rest in peace, Barby.
 

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I remember standing at my fathers bed, yelling at him, hang on, spring is close, soon we'll go fishing again. But that year springtime didn't come and when my brother and I took his boat, the sea was quiet and so were we and the whole day we didn't catch any fish. And later that year we sold the boat.