Barbara J. Alexander

Barbara Jean Alexander, daughter of the late Janie Norfor and James Bailey was born on May 21, 1940 in Chickasha, Oklahoma. She departed this life on August 19, 2003 at Maryland General Hospital.She received her primary education in Chickasha, Oklahoma and her L.P.N. license at the Post Graduation School of Nursing in Baltimore, Maryland. She was the only child of Janie Norfor and James Bailey.Barbara met her husband, Arthur Burch Alexander while he was serving in the Army at Fort Sills, Oklahoma. They were married August 23, 1957 and relocated to his home town of Baltimore, Maryland in November 1957 after he was discharged from the Army. Out of this union of marriage four children were born: Duane, Lisa, Sheila and Todd.Barbara worked many years as an L.P.N. at several nursing homes and hospitals. After which, she took a job with Baltimore City as a School Crossing Guard. While working as a Crossing Guard, she held a part-time position with K-Mart Corporation as a door greeter. Through her dedication, motivation and work ethics, she was promoted to Security Manager. After years of serving in this position, she was promoted to Personnel Manager. After retiring from K-Mart, she returned to her first love which was the position of School Crossing Guard. She was well loved and admired by all the children, teachers and school principal. The children lovingly referred to her as “Miss Barbara”. They felt comfortable in confiding in her about school, family and life in general. Even after the children graduated, they would always return to keep “Miss Barbara” up to date on what was going on in their lives. She would make an extra effort to have school supplies, gloves, bandages, knit caps, hats, etc. available just in case one of the children needed something. Once she saw a child going to school in the winter time without a coat. She told the child that she had a coat at home that would fit her and all she needed to do was to get permission from her mother. Barbara loved looking out for the children at school and did not mind going the extra mile to assist them. She was a foster parent for many years and enjoyed traveling, dancing, shopping, music and family gatherings.She leaves behind to cherish and not to mourn: her husband for forty-six years, Arthur Burch Alexander; four children, Duane Alexander of Crestview, Florida, Lisa Diane Alexander of Baltimore, Maryland, Sheila Fields of Ft. Walton, Florida, and Todd Alexander of Baltimore, Maryland; nine grandchildren, Arthur James Alexander, Michelle Alexander, Alexis Alexander and Angeles Alexander of Crestview, Florida, Devin and Antoine Fields of Baltimore, Maryland, Britanny Alexander, Todd Alexander Jr., and Lauren Alexander of Edgewood, Maryland; one godchild, Devon Miller of Baltimore, Maryland; two daughters-in-law, Julia Alexander of Crestview, Florida and Lisa Linee Alexander of Edgewood, Maryland; one son-in-law, Joseph Fields of Baltimore, Maryland; one sister-in-law, Nellie Merritt of Baltimore, Maryland; a host of cousins and devoted friends.

Tributes

Barbara J. Alexander

May 21, 1940 - August 19, 2003