Heather Barros Temple

On Tuesday, December 4, 2018, Heather Barros Temple, age 39, of Richmond, VA, entered eternal peace after a courageous battle with cancer. The daughter of the late James Frank Barros and Judith Fleming Barros, Heather grew up in Dinwiddie County, VA and attended Ocran United Methodist Church.
She was a 1997 graduate of Dinwiddie County High School where she graduated with honors and was extremely active in the school’s athletic department. She completed her education at Virginia Commonwealth University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences. Heather was a dedicated employee of VCU Health System since 2000, and in 2013 was instrumental in the startup and operation of the Emergency Department Lab. As a result, she was promoted to Lab Supervisor in 2016.
In 2006, Heather and her future husband, Matt, met through mutual friends and a romance quickly developed. With Matt came his daughter, McKenzie, who Heather considered her own daughter. In 2009, Heather and Matt were married, and one year later their daughter, Lilly, was born. Heather was not only a devoted mother to Lilly and McKenzie, she was a loving baby sister to Jen, and cherished and treated her nieces, Katelyn, Lauryn, and Sophia, as if they were her own.
In 2014, Heather was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma (LMS), an aggressive form of cancer that would ultimately take her life. She underwent 15 surgeries, and countless chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Throughout her illness, she never gave up. She fought the disease with every ounce of strength and stayed positive through it all. Heather’s remarkable determination and will to live have been, and will continue to be, an inspiration to many.
Heather was active in fundraising and cancer awareness, even before her own diagnosis. She co-chaired the Volunteer Committee of Susan G. Komen for the Cure with her sister Jennifer, from 1999 to 2008, giving almost a decade of service to the race. More recently, she became a participant in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in 2016, then forming her own team, “Hope for Heather,” in 2017. In 2018 she was asked to be the Survivor Speaker for the Richmond Chapter’s event, to which she was honored and accepted.
Heather enjoyed cooking and baking, taking spontaneous weekend trips, camping, and making frequent trips to what was perhaps her favorite place on earth, the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Heather and her family are part of the congregation of Welborne United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her husband, Matt Temple; daughters, Lillian and McKenzie Temple; sister, Jennifer Barros Miller; and nieces, Katelyn, Lauryn, and Sophia Miller, and countless extended family. She is also survived by many friends who she loved and were instrumental in helping her to remain positive throughout this difficult journey. For this, her family is eternally grateful to each of you.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, December 21, 2018 at Welborne United Methodist Church, 920 Maybeury Drive, Henrico, VA 23229. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, December 22, 2018 also at Welborne UMC. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 4240 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, VA 23060. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .