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Barbara, her sister Alice, and her brother Len Ervin were raised by a Missionary Baptist preacher who traveled the south eastern US building churches, often staying in one town for only one school year. The mission-life was not an easy one, and their mother Betty who had grown up in the depression was equipped with the knowledge to feed and clothe a family on very little income. From this, Barbara’s love of canning food and sewing was born.
When Barbara had her own family living on a small income, she would work over the sewing machine into the late hours to make a new Easter dress for her daughter or a new short set for her son. Although the young family of five had little money, Barbara was able to show her love for her children through cooking and sewing. She was a wonderful cook who would continue to shower her grandchildren with love in the kitchen. She and her mother made many, many beautiful quilts by hand to pass on to their children and grandchildren.
After raising her daughter April and sons Jeremiah and Nathan, Barbara gave birth to two more girls, Katelyn and Macy, in her 40s. Starting over with raising young children, Barbara played the role of softball coach and as the younger sisters grew, Barbara enjoyed cheering them on at softball games just as she had enjoyed cheering on her older sons at football games in her younger years.
When her younger son Nathan was in a tragic automobile accident when he was 18, Barbara spent two months at his side in the hospital until he passed away in July of 2001. During this time, Barbara decided to leave her life as a homemaker, mother, and poultry farmer and attend nursing school.
Barbara spent most of her career as a Licensed Practical Nurse at Magee General Hospital where she loved caring for her patients and their families. She developed relationships with her coworkers at MGH that she held dear and even when cancer had taken her ability to nurse, she refused to put her scrubs away in storage. She loved her career of nursing almost as much as she loved being a mother and grandmother because both allowed her to care for others.
Barbara fought a very difficult battle against cancer. She never let cancer win. She faced all of her treatments with dignity. She continued to build relationships until the end, and spent her last months of life building relationships with her nurses at South Central Cancer Center and South Central Regional Medical Center. No matter how badly Barbara felt, she would slip on a mask of strength once she walked into the clinic for treatments.
Although cancer had taken her ability to garden, she still had a love for flower beds. She had plans for planting new daylily seeds for this spring. Barbara also loved gardening vegetables that she could use to make canned foods for her children and grandchildren. She and her mother would prepare salsa, tomato juice, and jellies until Barbara’s health would not allow. Her mother Betty continued to can vegetables and jelly for the family until her death in February of this year.
As her children and grandchildren prepare to face life without her, the memories of joy and happiness will greatly overshadow the sickness she endured at the end of her life. Most of the family’s memories together are centered around Barbara’s kitchen. Her family will miss her biscuits, cornbread, and pancakes because, as she would proudly admit, no one else’s were as good. She enjoyed cooking, but cooking for her grandchildren, Micah, Trace, Nolan, Lily, Kye, and Paisleigh was her favorite.
Now her family has the difficult task of facing life without their mother and grandmother, losing both Barbara and her mother Betty in such a short time. However the strength that these two ladies have shown throughout their lives has taught their children and grandchildren to be resilient. Barbara’s legacy will live on in the lives of her children and grandchildren who loved her dearly.
Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Taylorsville is in charge of arrangements. (601) 785-6564
Online guestbook may be signed at www.colonialchapelmageemendenhall.com
