Obituary of Barbara Johnson

OBITUARY Barbara A. Stovall May 17, 1945 - March 16, 2017 Barbara A. Johnson (Stovall) departed this life on Thursday, March 16, 2017 in Paradise, California. Barbara was born May 17, 1945 in the small rural town of Dorsey, Mississippi to Mayola and Eddie Lee Stovall, Senior. She was the oldest daughter of five children: Barbara, Eddie, Freddy, Robert, and Marie. Barbara’s parents and grandparents LaGrone and Dezzie Stovall moved to Oroville, California in 1947 to join their other relatives who had also moved to California. Barbara was preceded in death by her father, Eddie, Senior, and her brothers Robert and Eddie, Jr.. Barbara and family were active members of Taylor Memorial C.M.E. Church. At the age of nine, she became the pianist for the church’s youth choir. Barbara was well known for her piano playing, often traveling with the church choir to sing at other churches near and far. In high school, Barbara sang in a singing group called the Six-Teens and in 1961, the group appeared on television in Sacramento, California. Barbara went to school in Oroville California. She attended Burbank Elementary and Central Junior High School. Barbara graduated from Oroville High School in 1962 and enrolled at California State University, Chico that fall. She studied at Chico for almost two years before relocating to Los Angeles to marry Ed Parrish. Soon after moving to Los Angeles, Barbara joined Pac Bell where she worked for several years before joining IBM Corporation. Barbara became a widow at the early age of 29, Ed passed away. She went on to have an enormously successful career at IBM. Barbara was blessed to experience love again later in life, marrying Emanuel Johnson in 1987. Barbara and Emanuel remained in Los Angeles for several years until IBM relocated them to Arizona. Barbara retired from IBM on July 1, 2000 after 34 years of employment there. She was highly regarded by her colleagues and made many lifetime friends while at IBM. Barbara received Christ at Crenshaw Christian Center in Los Angeles. She loved the Lord and knew He loved her and had a plan for her. As a Christian, she was beautiful and her influence will forever remain in the lives of all who knew her. Barbara was well known among family and friends for her great sense of style. She expressed impeccable taste in her fashion choices, both professional and casual attire. Her sense of style was also reflected in her love of home decoration. She loved experimenting with color, rearranging rooms, and creating beautiful table settings. Barbara was enormously creative and spent many hours doing varied crafting projects, making things that she proudly displayed in her home and gave as gifts to family and friends. As the oldest child, Barbara became the core of her extended family as her parents and siblings grew older. She organized gatherings at the homestead in Oroville, family outings on the lake, and many family trips near and far to keep the family close. All who knew Barbara took note of her generosity and thoughtfulness. She was the favorite Auntie of all the next generation. She provided inspiration, encouragement, and support to all of them to remind them to work hard using their God-given gifts. She wanted them to achieve their full potential and to never lose their faith in God. Not long after retirement, Barbara and Emanuel moved to Oroville to be closer to her aging parents. Barbara’s father, Eddie Senior, passed away one year after their move to Oroville. Both Barbara and Emanuel’s presence in Oroville was an enormous comfort to her mother during this time. Barbara became an active member in the South Oroville African American Historical Society and became a board member and secretary of the organization. Her beautiful decorating talents were on display each year when she provided the décor for the organization’s annual banquet. Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her mother, Mayola, her husband Emanuel, her step-daughter Alvinetta and husband Tony Strong, step-daughter Andrea and husband Stan Strachan, her brother Freddie and sister-in-law Brenda Stovall, her sister, Marie and brother-in-law George Williams, and her sister-in-law Freda Stovall. She leaves behind wonderful memories with numerous step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and with many friends, among them Virginia Walker, her friend of 69 years. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Ramsey Funeral Home, 1175 Robinson St. Oroville California on Friday, March 24, 2017 at 1:00 pm. Arrangements are entrusted to Oroville Funeral Home (530) 533-0323.