Obituary for Barbara Jean Johnson (Shuford)
Barbara Jean Johnson, 79, of Battle Creek, Michigan, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, February 18, 2024 in Battle Creek. She was born on February 6, 1945, in Battle Creek, Michigan, the daughter of Elijah M. Shuford and Ellen S. (Gibson) Shuford. Barbara attended Lincoln Elementary; Southwestern Middle School and received her high school diploma from Battle Creek Central High School. She met the love of her life at a dance in 1960 and married in 1961. They started their family in 1963.
Barbara was a huge advocate of education. She invested in home libraries of encyclopedias and took enrichment courses at Kellogg Community College during her lifetime. She started working at age 14, odd jobs, like cooking and cleaning for elderly people, to help her family bring in additional sources of income. Over the years, she went out of her way to express her love for love ones. Additionally, she showed love towards others, as well, especially children. Barbara was a huge advocate for children and her love was undeniably genuine. She worked as a volunteer at elementary schools; and served as a resource assistant at Kellogg Community College. She wanted young people to succeed.
Her heart was pulled in the direction of helping the youth in her church. From that pull, at Washington Heights Methodist church she became very active with the youth programming.
As for work: Barbara worked as a CENA; at the Pepsi Co., Archway Cookie factory; VC Squire; Gantos; Casual Corners; Jacobsons; Hudsons; and Kellogg Community College. Barbara lost her biological father at 16 and later gained a “Daddy Richardson” (a.k.a. Alfred Richardson, Sr.) through her mother’s second marriage. Barbara had a knack for finding great buys on loved ones' pretty clothes, jewelry, personal cosmetics, house wares, furniture and fragrances. She took her parents on trips with her. And loved family outings and vacations, especially Idlewild, MI.
She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1984, she refused to allow it to limit her life abilities. Knowing what Barbara was facing medically, it pushed her to make memories and enjoy moments with her children on many family vacations and visits. The two loved partying with family in Detroit and Milwaukee and shopping in Lansing and Canada. Barbara was her husband’s (Wonder Woman) and he was her (Super Man). She lived adventurously and enjoyed military time stationed at Kincheloe Air Force Base in Alpena, MI. The two traveled by plane with their daughter Angela to California; later, the two traveled by plane to Alaska to get their grandkids and then drove back to and from Alaska and visited a dear niece, Sheryl, in South Dakota. Barbara loved the Lord and loved the song, “HIs Eye is On the Sparrow.” Barbara’s favorite things to do was going to church; catching-up with family and friends; listening to Gospel and Motown music; cooking Barbecue (she made the best sauce) and cooking Soul Food; watching Wendy Williams, BET shows and Lifetime movies; gardening; and spending time with her fur baby, Krissey Mae.
Additionally, Barbara enjoyed spending time with her grand fur babies of Angela J. Johnson-Patton: Pebbles (Pepper Jean) Johnson and Edna Lee (Jellybean) Johnson. And dearly departed Grand fur baby, “Chewy,” of Sheila Johnson Blair’s.
Barbara was preceded in death by special first-cousin, Jerome N. Gibson of Milwaukee and close-friend/sister Janet Gorum-Marshall.
Barbara is survived by her three children, Sheila (Kenneth) Blair, LaTrece Johnson, Angela Johnson-Patton; grandchildren, Erika (Ricky) Davis, Najee Patton, Jazmyne (Andrew) Tripplett, Anthony Johnson-Blair; great grandchildren, Mikyah, Miles, Carter, Jael, Ty, Alivia, Judah and several step grandchildren.
Barbara was a huge advocate of education. She invested in home libraries of encyclopedias and took enrichment courses at Kellogg Community College during her lifetime. She started working at age 14, odd jobs, like cooking and cleaning for elderly people, to help her family bring in additional sources of income. Over the years, she went out of her way to express her love for love ones. Additionally, she showed love towards others, as well, especially children. Barbara was a huge advocate for children and her love was undeniably genuine. She worked as a volunteer at elementary schools; and served as a resource assistant at Kellogg Community College. She wanted young people to succeed.
Her heart was pulled in the direction of helping the youth in her church. From that pull, at Washington Heights Methodist church she became very active with the youth programming.
As for work: Barbara worked as a CENA; at the Pepsi Co., Archway Cookie factory; VC Squire; Gantos; Casual Corners; Jacobsons; Hudsons; and Kellogg Community College. Barbara lost her biological father at 16 and later gained a “Daddy Richardson” (a.k.a. Alfred Richardson, Sr.) through her mother’s second marriage. Barbara had a knack for finding great buys on loved ones' pretty clothes, jewelry, personal cosmetics, house wares, furniture and fragrances. She took her parents on trips with her. And loved family outings and vacations, especially Idlewild, MI.
She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1984, she refused to allow it to limit her life abilities. Knowing what Barbara was facing medically, it pushed her to make memories and enjoy moments with her children on many family vacations and visits. The two loved partying with family in Detroit and Milwaukee and shopping in Lansing and Canada. Barbara was her husband’s (Wonder Woman) and he was her (Super Man). She lived adventurously and enjoyed military time stationed at Kincheloe Air Force Base in Alpena, MI. The two traveled by plane with their daughter Angela to California; later, the two traveled by plane to Alaska to get their grandkids and then drove back to and from Alaska and visited a dear niece, Sheryl, in South Dakota. Barbara loved the Lord and loved the song, “HIs Eye is On the Sparrow.” Barbara’s favorite things to do was going to church; catching-up with family and friends; listening to Gospel and Motown music; cooking Barbecue (she made the best sauce) and cooking Soul Food; watching Wendy Williams, BET shows and Lifetime movies; gardening; and spending time with her fur baby, Krissey Mae.
Additionally, Barbara enjoyed spending time with her grand fur babies of Angela J. Johnson-Patton: Pebbles (Pepper Jean) Johnson and Edna Lee (Jellybean) Johnson. And dearly departed Grand fur baby, “Chewy,” of Sheila Johnson Blair’s.
Barbara was preceded in death by special first-cousin, Jerome N. Gibson of Milwaukee and close-friend/sister Janet Gorum-Marshall.
Barbara is survived by her three children, Sheila (Kenneth) Blair, LaTrece Johnson, Angela Johnson-Patton; grandchildren, Erika (Ricky) Davis, Najee Patton, Jazmyne (Andrew) Tripplett, Anthony Johnson-Blair; great grandchildren, Mikyah, Miles, Carter, Jael, Ty, Alivia, Judah and several step grandchildren.