Barbara Revels… “You Go Girl”

Unlike most people who claim the “Sunshine State” as their home, Barbara Revels is a true native with generations of Florida history. Born in Tampa, Florida, Barbara relocated to Flagler Beach, Florida with her parents; Bernie and Catherine Wilson and her sister, JoAnne when she was three years old. Today, fifty three years and a dramatically different landscape later, Barbara still calls Flagler County home.

Barbara Revels’ grandfather, George Wickline, was a Flagler Beach elected official for many years and was responsible for rebuilding the Flagler Pier a few times. His mother, Barbara’s great grandmother, Etta Wickline, was the first postmistress of Ocean City which is now Flagler Beach.

Barbara attended the beach elementary school which is now the Wickline Center, graduated from Bunnell High School and attended Daytona Beach Junior College. In 1972, she began her real estate career and expanded into building construction in 1982. Barbara has one son, Jed Revels and is married to Jerry Lloyd.

Barbara Revels has always sought professional integrity in her career. As a local real estate broker, she worked selflessly to establish the Flagler County Association of Realtors. As construction became a part of her business, she became actively involved with the Home Builders Association on local, state and national levels. Barbara explains, “I wanted to learn from my peers and network with professional subcontractors and suppliers.” Barbara went on to become the local association president and the first woman president of the Florida Home Builders Association. She was also involved at the national leadership level representing Florida and Puerto Rico.

Barbara has always had a vested interest in her community, one of the fastest growing counties in the nation, and is passionate about giving back. She has voluntarily served on many community and government boards and committees. She has also spent many years serving on planning boards, beginning in Flagler Beach, where she assisted in writing the first zoning ordinance for that community. Additionally, Barbara has served on recreation advisory boards, the Long Range Planning Board and chaired the Flagler County Planning Board.

On a state level, Barbara Revels has served on several committees, with numerous appointments by Governor Jeb Bush. Barbara states, “The most important and rewarding volunteer work I have done has been in the area of affordable housing, where I served on the state study commission and have served as Chair of Flagler’s Task Force since 1992. This work has led to many people being placed in homes or having their homes repaired which empowers them to take pride in their community. We all benefit from that and I am proud to have been a part of those projects.”

Barbara Revels has no intentions of letting any grass grow under her feet. Today, in true Abagals “Go Girl” fashion, Barbara is pedaling as fast as she can inventing the second half of her life.

Barbara was recently elected to the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners, District 3. When asked why she decided to take on such a challenge at this stage in her life, Barbara humbly responded, “Because I know with my collective knowledge and work in Flagler County, I will be able to help government respond to the private business sector and citizens’ needs. It is all about being progressive, collaborative and responsive. We can all work together and live better for it.”