I was born on August 16, 1938, on 12th and Dewey in Chandler, Oklahoma, to John Henry and Annie Mae (Barnett) Neal. I was the 11th child of 15 children eight boys and seven girls. Growing up, my brother, Junior, he called me Skeleton. My brother Kenneth called me Longbow.
I loved the outdoors, and playing in the woods that were across from where I lived. Playing jacks, hopscotch, jumping rope and riding my homemade scooter were some of my favorite pastimes including riding my bike and enjoying the different colored parts to it. I loved to walk down the dirt roads without shoes so I could feel the mud between my toes. Most of the time I didn’t have any shoes to wear. I liked getting into the water even though I never really learned how to swim, but I could dog paddle well. When I was 12, I got my first job cleaning houses for the Spragues and their children. I also worked helping my mom serving dinner and working in the restaurant. My first real paying job was working at the Marlow Diner on 13th and Broadway in OKC when I was 17 years old.
I moved back to Chandler where I started cleaning houses again and doing restaurant work in the 1960’s. In 1967, I attended sewing classes at the Redland Community building with Mariah Whitehead and Fannie Mae Caldwell.
I did not like school very much, but I did like helping Mrs. Crumble with the school programs and I would help with making the costumes or cutting out all the letters. I also liked homemakers where I started learning how to sew. I later dropped out of school but after I had my family, I saw the need to better myself, so I went to OBU in Shawnee where I received my GED. Praise the Lord!
On July 6, 1981, in Chandler, Oklahoma I married Joe Eddie Long. With the saying his, hers and ours, we had 13 children together: Wayne, Sherry, Stanley, Herbert, Mitchell, David, Delma, Pamela Regina, Calvin, VaRita, Shawn and Angelika.
In 1982, I worked as a teacher’s aide. Then in April 1983, I became the coordinator at Head Start. After leaving Head Start, I stayed home for a while and later in 1983 I started working at the Chandler Nursing Home where I worked on the west end. While there, I earned my Nurse’s Aide Certificate. I loved my job working with Joe, Connie, Marie, Eddie, Bozo, Shirley, Corene and other names I have forgotten.
After about a year, I started working as a Home Provider taking care of Jean Haywood. I went on to care for Peggy Walker and her son Terry. What a joy it was to care for them. Peggy became ill and had to be put in the nursing home and Terry moved with his sister in Broken Arrow. Joe and I saw a need in the foster care system and decided to become foster parents. We had over 100 children come into our home.
I loved the Lord! I became a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, later named the Mt. Calvary First Baptist Church at the age of 12 and I remained a member until 1972. I drifted away now and then and in 1972, I became a member of the Central Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Gilmore, then under the leadership of Rev. James E. Reed, Sr. In January 2010, I moved my membership to First Baptist Church under the leadership of Brother Rick Blackwell. I loved my church, my brothers and sisters…she is now at peace. I was preceded in death by my parents John Henry and Annie Neal; my loving husband Joe Eddie Long; my daughter Sherry Parker-Caldwell and son Wayne Long; my eight brothers: Emery, Henry, Otis, Fendrick, John Jr., Hershel, Kenneth and Alvin; my six sisters: Rosalee, Dollie, Octavia, Maggaline, Peggy and Ollie. I leave to cherish my memory, Nephew/Brother Eddie (Wilma) Holland; my daughters: Pamela J. Naff-Anderson, VaRita Parker, Jackie Holland (my niece/ daughter), Regina Long and Angelika (Siera) Mukes; my sons: Mitchell (Glendia) Naff, Delma Naff, Shawn (Chelsea) Long; Stanley (Bonita) Long, Herbert Long, David Long and Calvin Long. Eighteen (18) Grandchildren: George (Torrey) Parker II, Tasha Parker, Rafael Ervin, Natalie Hunter, BarbaraMichelle (Sadarius) Slaughter, Sheree (Trayron) Nelson, Christopher Joe Long, Stephanie (Dan) Gunn, Ariyah & Zendaya Mukes, Anderson Joe and Teddy Long; Wesley (Kelly) Long, Marianne (Maurice) White; Tiana Smith, Tiffany Long (Robert); Tyrone Long and Jennifer Ware; 32 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
Funeral services for Barbara will be held 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at the First Baptist Church, Chandler, Oklahoma. Family and friends are invited to pay their respects from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Friday, August 9, at Parks Brothers Funeral Service, Chandler. Condolences can be expressed at www.parksbrothers.net. Services are in the care of Parks Brothers Funeral Service, Chandler, Oklahoma.