Leavier Amelia Barber

LEAVIER A. BARBER (affectionately referred to as Our Mother by family and Miss Brown by everyone in her community) was born on April 21, 1934, in Pasadena, MD, to the late Rebecca and Leonard Dean. God called her from labor to reward on August 28, 2023, at MedStar Harbor Hospital in Baltimore, MD. She was the youngest of 16 children and received her education at Magothy Mt. Zion United Methodist Church and School, followed by Bates High School in Annapolis, MD. God endowed her with the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, faith, and healing, as recorded in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 vs 7-10. Proverbs 14:1 reads, “A wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears hers down.” She would discuss with anyone who wanted to listen to her about what she had done and wanted to do to her house and around the yard; she was a self-taught home improvement specialist, ensuring the foundation was laid right. She loved God her family, cooking, working in her yard, and going to various stores ranging from home improvement to thrift stores. She always loved to ride, whether around or out of town. She told us stories about her upbringing through adulthood. She consistently reinforced to put God first, work hard, live life to the fullest, learn all we can and then learn some more, love everyone, and always forgive. She cooked and decorated her yard accordingly, no matter the season or holiday. She loved listening to gospel music and various broadcasts of worship services on the radio and later TV. She began worshipping with the New Psalmist via the radio when the broadcast aired on Sunday mornings on 102.7 and again on Heaven 600 in the evenings. She began attending New Psalmist in person in 1996. Besides her own, she held a special place in her heart for Bishop Oscar E. Brown (First Mt. Olive Freewill Baptist Church, Baltimore, MD) and the late Rev. Dr. Charles E. Booth (Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, Columbus, OH). As she saw the sunset draw near on August 8, 2023, she privately re-dedicated her life to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She became renewed as Sister Leavier Barber of the New Psalmist Baptist Church family. She and Enoch Brown joined in marriage whom we call Our Daddy. From their union, they had nine children; he transitioned on April 16, 1969, at Baltimore City Hospitals in Baltimore, MD. After his passing, Our Mother focused on raising their nine children and pursuing her career with the Anne Arundel County Board of Education as a Brooklyn Park Middle School custodian, formerly Brooklyn Park Jr./Sr. High School. After 43 years of service, she retired with full honors and benefits on July 1, 2014. She married Herbert Barber on June 11, 1977; he preceded her in death on July 28, 1995, at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, MD. She was also preceded in death by her sons Winston Brown (October 28, 1988) and Harold Brown (August 31, 2017) and grandson Ivan V. Hall (December 15, 2015). Our mother and grandmother now rests knowing her seven children, Celestine Hall, Joyce Hurst, Mary Brown, Charles Brown, Leavier Brown, Enoch Brown, and Anthony Brown, along with son-in-law Charles L. Hall Sr., will carry her legacy along with 60 grandchildren. She was resolute in her wisdom and love, not to differentiate between the generations. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbors, and acquaintances join us in keeping her legacy alive.

Tributes

Leavier Amelia Barber

April 21, 1934 - August 23, 2023