Cousins may you have solace in this difficult time - it's hard to lose a mother who was also your friend.

I think it was later on in life I started visiting your mother at her shop on Red Hills Road. She always had a soft voice and a gentle demeanor about her. I remember sitting in her shop during a visit and was enjoying the quietness of the whirling sound of her sewing machine. I'll never forget the thought that went through my mind as I watched her working, pins in her mouth, her eyeglasses perched on her nose... "this is a woman of so much courage". I admired her greatly and because of that admiration, I decided to visit her more often when in the area.

I know what it is to lose a mother and your mother was your champion. May she rest in peace and her memory live on in us all. God Speed Miss Barbara!

Sandi  

Ms. Barbara,
was my dressmaker for all the years I lived in JA.  She made every single one of my Seprod uniforms.  I never had to explain anything to her.  Just give her the bag with the uniform material and a week later five uniforms would be ready for me to wear to work. The best linen casual wear dresses and pants for my Friday afterwork hang outs.

I will miss her.

Jacquie 

I just want to celebrate Ms Barbara, life, I was priviledged to know her, she was married to my Uncle Frank Walker, but I was much much closer to her, as a young woman I have always admired her grace, her passion for her family  and her hard work well i have been around her, seen her with her work (she was one of those people who works smart) I think God was blessing her more and more with renewed strength,.  She was a very committed to her husband and her children and people even me lol, she left herself for last, I remember having an event and i did not have an outfit, it was 9.00clock on that saturday night, she is about to close shop, i was so sad she looked at me and showed me the outfit she  made while i was sitting there.  I just want to think about the good times, we all used to laugh, tell stories and eat good food, my God she feeds even her enemy.  she will always be in my heart, I love my cousins so much, Bunny, Errol, Bindy, Neville Carol and Pet, when your MOM reach that Pearly Gates I know Jesus will meet her and say WELL DONE THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.  BE STRONG MY FAM, FIND THE STRENGTH IN GOD.


 

I remember when I was around 6 years old and I was going home from a basic school located at 12 Whitehall Avenue.  Apparently a goat was hit badly with a stone by someone.  A man started to ask who threw the stone and a fellow student pointed at me.   The man grabbed me and forced me to take him to my parents. 

My home was actually nearby at 14 Whitehall Avenue. In those days both 12 Whitehall Avenue and 14 Whitehall Avenue were actually lanes with streams of thatched houses.  Although we lived in so called ghettos, my parents were always progressive and hardworking people, so much so that we were able to leave the ghettos when I was around 14 to live in our own purchased home in a middle class area.

Anyhow when I reached home with the man behind me, I went in and called my Mom.  I think I was crying. I did not explain anything to my mother.  She walked with me to the gate to meet the man.  After hearing the first couple words from the man, she bluntly and fiercely told the man to leave her property.  

My Mom just knew that I did not do what the man was accusing me of.  She did not need any explanation.  She knew her son.   

She was the person I could go to with any problem.  She was and will always be my hero.