Mrs. Barbara J Stovall

OBITUARY OF SHE WHO WE LOVE We are celebrating the life of Barbara J. Stovall who was born on March 4, 1946 in Sarasota, Florida. Barbara transitioned to eternal life on November 9, 2019 at Froedtert Hospital after a valiant twelve-month battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Barbara faced her ordeal unflinchingly and never wavered in her faith in Christ and His defeat of sin and death. Barbara was the mother of four adult children all born in Sarasota, Florida. They include: Reginald (Debra) Lee of Sarasota, Florida; Angela (Michael) Phillips of Bradenton, Florida; Rosena Thomas of Bradenton, Florida; Lynn (June-Ella) Jackson of Leesburg, Virginia. Barbara was the grandmother of nine grandchildren including: sisters Tiffany and Alayah Lee; Jaithan Phillips; Mark Philip Thomas; and sisters and brothers Kairi-Ann, Njeri, Safiya, Neziah, and Japhia Jackson. Barbara was also the great-grandmother of Zion Tatum and brothers Jayden and Kannon Stevenson. Barbara has an older half-brother named Ray (Lillian) Kemp and a younger deceased half-brother named Calvin (Amy) Hamilton. Barbara was the third oldest of eight children born to the marriage of Theodore Howard Thomas and Rosena Thomas. She was pre-deceased by her eldest sister, Queen Anne Lowe. Her second eldest sister, Bettie Thomas, lives in Sarasota, Florida. Barbara's younger siblings include: Theodore (Sherri) Thomas of Atlanta, Georgia; Deryl Thomas of Tampa, Florida; Zelda Bryant of Palmetto, Florida; Regina (Timothy) Boyd of Atlanta, Georgia; Vincent (Yvette) Thomas of Sarasota, Florida; and god-brother, Gary (Rhonda) Williams of Atlanta, Georgia. Barbara was pre-deceased by her loving parents. Barbara was born and raised in Sarasota, Florida. She completed Booker High School and attended post high school classes leading to her eventual employment with Sarasota County Department of Social Services. She served as a social worker and worked twenty years helping the infirmed and indigent residents of the county. Barbara was strengthened in her personal and professional life by her abiding faith in CHRIST and fellowship with other believers. She was also uplifted by loving family and friends including her special relationship with her surrogate parents, Kelly and Josie Lee. Barbara's life was further buttressed by her adoring paternal grandmother, Queen Thomas, and aunts Dorothy Marshall and Florence Ford. Barbara's best friend of longest standing is Mary Lou Whitman of Tarpon Springs, Florida. Uppermost in Barbara's life was her mother, Rosena Thomas, whose Christian example was the template for Barbara's life. Barbara was also an avid tennis player and was highly regarded on the public tennis courts of Sarasota. Barbara married Willie E. Stovall of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on September 22,1990. The couple met in church when Willie was visiting his best friend, Autrey Barker and family, whose job had transferred him to Sarasota from Milwaukee. Motivated by the power of love, Barbara eagerly traded the sun-drenched beaches of Sarasota for the frozen tundra of Milwaukee having faith GOD would richly bless the marital union and the LORD did just that. Barbara worked fifteen years as an expediter and nationwide logistical agent for Wi sPack Foods. After the company was sold, she joined the US Cellular Company as a customer service representative and retired after eight years of service. Barbara was a dedicated and active promoter of the Gospel of CHRIST and was in lockstep with her husband, Willie, and his pastorship at God's Community Project Church. Her side interests included flower gardening, singing, cooking, and traveling including trips to London, England and Jerusalem, Israel. Barbara also loved family and friends and interacted as often as was practical. Top on Barbara's list was pampering her husband, Willie. Barbara shared a close bond with many people to numerous to individually name. Special mention must be given however to her in-laws, Pastor Albert and Willie Mae Phillips; in-law, Ruby Dillard; longtime friend, Frances Lund and god-daughter, Priscilla Deener; Sister in Christ, Annie Cleveland; sisters in-law, June and Faye and Dale Stovall; and brother in-law, Dwight Stovall. The highest recognition goes to Barbara's sister, Regina Boyd, who was Barbara's bone marrow transplant donor. Regina without hesitation freely volunteered her own body tissue to the doctors striving to curb Barbara's leukemia and she traveled from Atlanta, Georgia to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to do so. Barbara was deeply touched by Regina's show of love and hence forth declared Regina as her new twin sister. In addition to the bereaved family members mentioned above, Barbara leaves behind her maternal aunt, Nellie (Terry) Whitherspoon and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Barbara Stovall will be sorely missed as we long to see her again in paradise. Until then she is nestled in the bosom of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Who will never leave nor forsake those who are HIS by faith.

Mrs. Barbara J Stovall

March 4, 1946 - November 9, 2019