Barbara J. Edmonds

Life Reflections


Barbara Jean Edmonds was born on August 25th, 1932, to proud parents Mr. & Mrs. Herbert O'Bannon in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was the 7th of 10 children.

While attending public school, Barbara developed a love for the arts and for music, and she had leading roles in school plays. She was part of a singing trio with her older brother Teddy and her younger sister Phyllis, and they performed at church on Sundays. According to her youngest sister Patricia, "they always rocked the house."

Barbara attended Crispus Attucks High School, and graduated at the young age of 16. She then went on to attend Indiana University.

Soon after, young Barbara Jean met and then married the love of her life, Marvin Dallas Edmonds, Sr. In 1952, the first of their six sons was born, Marvin, Jr. He was followed by Melvin, Michael, Kevin, Kenny, and Derek.

Barbara was not a stranger to hard work, and believed that every able body
should have a job; and she was no exception. Her first job was working for her father at their family-owned-and-operated soul food restaurant, The Chicken Shack, where Barbara baked cakes and pies. She was best known for her Carmel Cake – to this day, everyone still asks for her special recipe. Being a firm believer in having a good education, Barbara next began selling Children's World Book Encyclopedias, before becoming a substitute teacher in the Indianapolis Public School System. From there, she went on to work for Eli Lilly Pharmaceutical Company, where she was a team member during the development of the original trials for human insulin. She worked at Eli Lilly for 22 years, retiring in 1991.

In 1969, Barbara became a loyal and faithful member of Grace Apostolic Church in Indianapolis. She loved, and was loved by, all of her fellow church members. One of her favorite scriptures comes from Philippians 4:13 King James Version: "I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me."

Barbara was left with the task of raising 6 boys after the passing of her husband in 1972. Her love for her boys was unwavering, which was a testament to her strength, and to her faith in God. She dedicated her life to each and every one of them, and nothing gave her more pride than her sons and all of their accomplishments.

She also loved to travel. In the early '70s, Barbara took her first trip to California, and the warm weather made her further bitten by the travel bug. So in 1996, she relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada. In her words, it was to "escape the cold weather." It was no secret to anyone who knew her: Barbara Jean loved the heat. When she arrived in Las Vegas, however, she didn't just sit still. Barbara traveled the world with family and friends, including visits to places like England, Milan, Rome, Florence, Venice, Switzerland, Nice, Paris, Bali, Bangkok, Singapore, Beijing, Hong Kong, Chiang Mai, Greece, Egypt, Bora Bora, Turks and Caicos, Australia, and her favorite place of all, Hawaii.

But nothing pleased her more than simply spending time with her grandchildren; they always made her smile. Family was, and is, everything to her.

The Lord called Sister Barbara Jean Edmonds home on Sunday morning,
September 23, 2012, in the quietness of her own home.

Barbara Jean was a devoted Wife, Mother, Granny, Sister, Aunty, and Friend. She was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Gladys Lucille O'Bannon, her husband, Marvin Dallas Edmonds, Sr., her siblings, Robert Potter, Herbert O'Bannon, Jr. (aka Buddy), Delbert O'Bannon, Teddy O'Bannon, Katherine Foster, Joan Hudson, and Phyllis Marlene Buckley, and her son, Marvin Dallas Edmonds, Jr.

She is survived by adoring sons Melvin (Terri) Edmonds (Las Vegas, NV),
Michael (Marguerite) Edmonds (Las Vegas, NV), Kevin (Ruth) Edmonds (Nashville, TN), Kenneth (Nikki) Edmonds (Los Angeles, CA), and Derek Edmonds (Indianapolis, IN); by daughter-in-law Michelle Edmonds (Las Vegas, NV); by sisters Melinda Woodard (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) and Patricia (Freddie) Harris (Las Vegas, NV); by brother-in-law Butler Hudson (Indianapolis, IN); by sisters-in-law Wanda Sue Roberts and Gloria Dean Edmonds (both of Indianapolis, IN); by grandchildren Michelle Edmonds, Marvin Edmonds III, Andre Gilbert, Jason Edmonds, Courtney Edmonds, Melvin Edmonds Jr., Christopher Edmonds, David Edmonds, Dominic Paicely, Lorita Hill, Lovette Roby, Evin Hill, Remy Edmonds, Karmella Rose Edmonds, Tia Russell, Brandon Edmonds, Dylan Edmonds, Peyton Edmonds, Nicole Neal, and Nina Edmonds; by great-grandchildren Jaelen Edmonds, Bjorn Hill, Anya Hill, Israel Osagie, Anthony Neal, and Alayah Neal; by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family; and last but not least, her Mountain Top Faith Ministries Family.

Arrangements under the direction of Palm Cheyenne Mortuary, Las Vegas, NV.