Obituary of Barbara Ann Barksdale

Barbara Ann Barksdale was born on June 27, 1951, to Frances Haynes and Charles Haynes in Philadelphia PA. She was the fifth child out of 10 siblings. Barbara was educated in the Philadelphia School system where she enjoyed home economics where she learned to sew and bake. She was an excellent cook and was also well known for her sweet potato pies and cobblers and took great pride in showing her love to her family, friends and neighbors by lovingly preparing meals and desserts to share with them. Barbara was affectionately known as “Bobbie” or “Barbara Ann” to family, or simply, Ms. Barb to everyone else. She loved to talk, meet new people and was a social butterfly. A natural born homemaker, she enjoyed all things domestic including beatifying her home, making slip covers and tending to her garden. Dancing was another favorite pastime of hers. She loved to do the “Bop” to the sounds of Motown and all the old school dances. As a young adult, she united with Frank Claiborne and bore a son, Darius. After that union dissolved, she met and married a military man, Robert Barksdale and out of that union bore a daughter, Belinda, and later two sons, Lawrence and Robert Jr. The family relocated to Willingboro, New Jersey where she enjoyed socializing with other military families and raising her children in a suburban lifestyle. She was a frequent host to her Philadelphia family inviting them to many parties and cookouts and she especially enjoyed hosting her nieces and nephews for the summer. She had a fondness for older people and children and anyone in need. In the late 1980s, she accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior and became active in her local church. Her work life included working as a production worker for companies such as Whitman’s Chocolate Factory, Nabisco and Gamesa Wind Turbine Company. In recent years, she battled several health and personal challenges but God was her source and her strength. In 2015, when her son Lawrence’s cancer spread, she relocated to Pennsylvania to care for him where she remained until her passing. In 2017, she had brain surgery to remove a benign tumor. This event would leave lasting physical effects but her determined spirit to keep on going in spite of her health difficulties and, the tragic loss of two sons never defeated her. She praised God all the more. Psalm 23 was her “go-to” scripture and she would play gospel music to feel God’s presence and His peace. Barbara discovered a love for travel later in life and absolutely enjoyed being treated to trips and cruises with her daughter to Bahamas, Mexico, Florida, Las Vegas and Canada. With a love for music and entertainment, she loved Gospel plays and concerts, family reunions, catching up with family and friends, but her greatest joy was becoming a grandmother and great grandmother. She would always say that with grands, it was God’s way of giving you a second chance at parenting. She was a dedicated and active Mother and Grandmother and treasured all of the children in her life. Barbara leaves to cherish in her memory, her two surviving children, Darius who was her daily caretaker (Anjanette), and Belinda, grandchildren, DeAndre, Darius, Jr., DeShawn, Devon, Ayana and Alexis, along with great grandchildren Blithe and Omari. Barbara also leaves to mourn her sisters, Mabel and Leslie; brothers, Charles, Victor and Gary, sister-in law, Ernestine, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Barbara was predeceased by sons Lawrence and Robert, her parents, Charles and Frances, as well as her brothers Larry and Ronald, and sisters Francine and Sandra.