Lisa Barranco

Lisa Antoinette Barranco (“LisaB”) passed away on June 23, 2025. Born July 11, 1965, in Sanford, Florida to the late Dr Sam and Mrs. Joy Barranco of Winter Haven, Lisa was a lifelong resident of Winter Haven and New Orleans.  

While Lisa was mostly employed in the college education field, she was most inspired by her adoration of the great Florida outdoors. She loved picking blueberries, arranging flowers, selling poinsettias at Christmastime, growing orchids, painting, and catching everything from Amberjack to Wahoo. She loved cooking New Orleans-style cuisine as well as Italian and Lebanese family recipes. She was an enthusiastic volunteer with the Lake Wales Art Festival, Lake Wales Arts Council, Alpha Chi Omega sorority and many other organizations.  

She and her longtime companion, Terry Davis (of Winter Haven), could be found most weekends at various racecar tracks around the Southeast. When she wasn’t looking for a checkered flag, she adored watching sunsets at Little Gasparilla Island as much as she enjoyed an Alabama (& FSU) victory. She was active in the Garden Club of Winter Haven (Past President) and was a member of St Joseph Catholic Church. Lisa enjoyed everyone she encountered while serving soup kitchen meals at the First Presbyterian Church, as well.  

Lisa earned her undergraduate and master's degrees at Loyola University in New Orleans, where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. New Orleans captured her heart, and she resided there for a few decades. Her friends in “the Big Easy” were some of her closest and she never missed the chance to shop on Magazine Street, pop into Tipitina’s or to eat at Galatoire’s. Lisa relished dressing up to attend the New Orleans Opera Guild events as much as she delighted in throwing on a t-shirt and blue jeans to attend JazzFest and Mardi Gras.  

Lisa loved her family. She is survived by her mother, Joy (Winter Haven); her sister Nicole (Chattanooga, TN); brothers Sam, Jr. (Kim) (Tampa) and Christopher (Heather) (Winter Haven); plus, nieces and nephews, Sam III, Matthew, Gabby & Marin. Lisa is also survived by her companion Terry Davis (Winter Haven) and her dear friend and former husband Ned Murphy (Lakeland).  

To honor and reflect upon Lisa’s life, everyone is invited to either or both of the events on Saturday July 26th: Funeral mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church Chapel, Winter Haven - 10:30 am. A Celebration of life reception at the Country Club of Winter Haven immediately following the mass or drop in anytime from 12:30 - 3:00 pm. 

To honor her legacy, donations can be made in Lisa’s name to: Good Shepherd Hospice of Auburndale, FL; the Garden Club of Winter Haven or simply think of her as you enjoy a live band, cast a line into the water, stop at a fruit stand, pick up trash off the beach, catch some Mardi Gras beads, or as you arrange some fresh cut flowers.  

Thank you all for your tremendous outpouring of love and support. - The Barrancos