Barbara Winstead Purdy

Barbara Winstead Purdy, beloved child of God

August 23, 1937 to September 24, 2025

Barbara Winstead Purdy Paules, full of fun, faith and joy, passed into the arms of her Lord our Savior on September 24, 2025.

She was predeceased by her grandparents, Senator and Mrs. Robert Stonewall Rogers of Dillon, S.C., her parents Mr and Mrs Pleasant Gold Winstead of Myrtle Beach, S.C., her late husband, Douglas Warren Purdy of Myrtle Beach, S.C, a stepson, Keith Allen Purdy of Charleston, S.C and her son-in-law, Paul Cifaldi III of Hilton Head, S.C.

Barbara is survived by her husband, Charles E. Paules, Jr. of Hilton Head, S.C., her sister Martha Brannock (Jim) of Elon, N.C., her brother, P.G. Winstead, Jr. of Myrtle Beach, S.C., her daughters Mary Bruce (Brucie) Holler (Tom Abrams) of Fort Lauderdale, FL, Dr. Barbara (Bebe) Cifaldi of Bluffton, S.C. and a step-son David Purdy (Jeannie) of Moncure, N.C. Barbara had six grandchildren, Olivia Cifaldi (Irene Lin) of Barcelona, Spain, Paul Cifaldi (Olivia) of Hilton Head, Ian Schenkel of Charleston, Casey Schenkel of Charleston, Darren Purdy (Stephanie) of Cary, N.C. and Ashley Edge (Jon) of Durham, N.C. Barbara had six beautiful great-grandchildren, Caroline, Dane, Katherine, Wyatt and Sal and another on the way!

Barbara was a 1955 graduate of Myrtle Beach High School, attended Furman University and was a 1959 graduate of University of South Carolina. She was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority at USC and made her debut in 1957 at the Assembly Ball in Columbia, S.C.

She was very involved in her churches, First Methodist and First Presbyterian in Myrtle Beach, S.C. and was a charter member of Trinity Church in Hilton Head, S.C. where she arranged the flowers for the altar for 6 years. She became a member and involved in her current church, Providence Presbyterian in Hilton Head in 2018. She was a charter member of the DelMar Book Club and a member of the Nautilus Books Club and a past member of the Dunes Club and Pine Lakes Country Club in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

In 1986, she and her husband, Douglas Purdy, founded Barbara’s Fine Gifts in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The store was Barbara’s crown and glory as it was and still is a “go to” store for all things fine. It was sold in 2007 after the death of her husband. At that point, Barbara moved to Hilton Head in 2008 after 70 years in Myrtle Beach to be near her daughters and grandchildren.

Barbara’s joys were her church bible studies, her garden and arranging flowers for weddings and the church altar. She loved etiquette, beauty and extravagance and was known to all as a woman who “gilded the lily”. She never left the house without her red lipstick, a smile on her face, an easy laugh, her jewels and a cute hat. She was fortunate that she was able to have traveled extensively throughout her life, covering most of the globe. She was an avid reader, a phenomenal dancer (The Carolina Shag), a lover of all things fine (china, white wine, clothes and flowers), so quick to laugh at herself, and an incredibly kind woman. She will be missed by all who knew her.

There will be a memorial service for Barbara at Providence Presbyterian Church in Hilton Head, S.C. on Saturday, October 4 at 11:00am. To live stream her memorial service, please go to providencehhi.org and follow the instructions. And on December 18, 2025, there will be a graveside internment at Ocean Woods Memorial Cemetery in Myrtle Beach, S.C.