Barbara Rose Harrison Jones

Barbara R. Harrison Jones 

Mom to Katric’ & Darryl Jones  

Mimi (Grandmother) to Ariale Brock, Darryl Jr and Drayton.

Youngest daughter of Clara & Willie Harrison  

Barbara Rose Harrison was born on February 1, 1936, to Clara and Willie Harrison in New  Orleans, Louisiana. Barbara was educated by the New Orleans public school system. She  graduated from Booker T. Washington High and then studied briefly at Grambling State  University. After leaving Grambling, she went on to work at the US Postal Service and then  worked at WBOK radio station as an assistant to a blind DJ. Barbara took her love for music and  grew in the field of radio broadcasting. Due to her quiet demeaner, she felt being an announcer  was not the best fit for her. It did allow her to grow her knowledge of music and meet others with  the talent of singing and performing. At the radio station, she met her husband, Donald Jones.  He was a singer with the New Orleans Zion Harmonizers. This was a gospel group that often were  guest at the radio station. Being brought up in a Christian, church going family, he captured her  heart. They were married and had a daughter, Katric Jones and son, Darryl Jones. The marriage  ended in divorce (1972) and in 1975, Donald Jones passed away as a victim of the violence in  New Orleans.

Barbara went on to study CNA (certified nursing assistant) and started working in that capacity  to raise her kids as a single mom. The beauty of the Harrison family, at that time, you were never  in it alone. Barbara moved next door to her parents, who had tenants but asked them to leave so  that they could assist their daughter to raise her kids. This was a double house Clara and  Willie purchased (4025-27 Eve Street) in 1941 with all renovations done by Willie. It was what  we ALL knew as HOME. It was a place Barbara raised her kids, experienced life, laughter, good  and bad times. It was safe, it was the house her father bought and the home her mother created. 

Barbara never left her love of music. She just applied it in another fashion. She played the organ  at Mt. Hermon Baptist Church and was over the young adult choir. They sang every 2nd Sunday  and that was the Sunday the church was packed. You saw the love she had for it in the manner  she played and the way the choir responded in her direction. It was Her Best! It made her Happy  and gave her PEACE!! 

 Who Was She  

Barbara was a black, divorced, single mom, and daughter with loving parents that  had to readjust her vision for her life. Many times, people face life with a face card  for the public that allows them to hide their pain. Her face card was humor and  fashion. She had sarcasm that kept others laughing. Due to the laughter of her  words, many never saw the pain of her life. She loved fashion and she loved  her kids to dress in a manner that captured compliments of others. Back then, you  did not speak of your pain or your failed dreams. You thank God for another day  and kept going. 

Did the anger sometime show its ugly head, yes! With that over time, the humor  was no longer funny. It creates distance that others often put between each other  as opposed to coming together to just “see about me.” She was a Woman like all  others but misunderstood to say the least. Being the last of 6 kids and so much of  the youngest, she was doted on by her older siblings which created a sense of  entitlement. What was cute as a youngster became a hindrance with age. She had a nice soul with a  misunderstood message. Love and communication can conquer all, but WE ALL  have to do as we once did with each other-INVEST. She was a strong, black mom  with 2 kids that lived her life!! In spite of our faults, God sees our needs. He  blessed her with three grandkids!! One granddaughter Ariale Brock (Katric’) and  two grandsons Darryl Jr. And Drayton (Darryl). She was able to love them in a  way that her busy life did not allow when she was younger and working long  hours.  

In the end, she was a child of God. Walk away from her life knowing we must talk  to each other, care about each other, ask how are you doing and wait for the  answer. Investing in a person with time and communication makes a difference!

Author Katric Jones