Barbara Stanwyck GILYARD

GILYARD, Barbara Stanwyck Dec. 6, 1935-April 29, 2012 Our loving mother, grandmother and friend Barbara Gilyard passed away in Norwalk, California on April 29, 2012 at the age of 76. Barbara was born December 6, 1935 in New Orleans, Louisiana to Henry and Joanna Ballard. She was baptized, attended school, graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, and was married - all in New Orleans. Barbara was an extraordinary, loving mother and grandmother, a lady of deep faith in the Lord who regularly attended church and bible study, an avid reader, and she also really enjoyed complex word puzzles and watching sports on TV. Barbara was the mother of six children, grandmother of ten children, and great-grandmother of three children. She really loved to see her grandchildren, and recently commented that she wasn't sure which group of kids were having more fun running around her house.
Throughout her adult life Barbara lived and raised her six children throughout the United States - living in the states of Washington, Florida, Illinois, California, Texas, Hawaii and eventually settling back in California beginning in the late 1960s. For 40+ years she was a proud member of Grace Lutheran Church in Rialto, California and very much cherished her second family there at Grace. Barbara also lived for a time in recent years with her loving sister Marian Batts in Petersburg, Virginia, and treasured both the company of her sister and the local church that they attended there. Barbara most recently lived in Bellflower, California and really enjoyed the people in her community there, including her bible study group, local church group, and apartment neighbors. Barbara is survived by (in order of birth): her daughter Barbara Alexander, her son Clarence Gilyard and his wife Elena, her son Milton Gilyard, her daughter Karen Gilyard and her husband Robert Ward, her son Gerald Gilyard and his wife Richell, and her son Reginald Gilyard and his wife Suji Woo. Barbara is also survived by her grandchildren (in order of birth): Adriene Alexander, Alisha Craig, Paul Gilyard, Rachel Gilyard, Asia Gilyard, Maximillian Gilyard, Peter Gilyard, Gabriella Gilyard, Lilianna Gilyard, and Gabriel Gilyard. Barbara is also survived by her great-grandchildren (in order of birth): Cerenity Atkins, Michael Craig, and An'el Ward. Barbara is also survived by her sister Marian Batts. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 5, 2012, beginning at 3:00 PM at Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary, 3888 Workman Mill Road, Whittier, CA 90601 (www.rosehills.com). Donations can be made in Barbara's name to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. Go to www.sicklecelldisease.org; click on "Wall of Giving"; then "read more" under Tributes and Memorials; then "create a memorial" under Memorials. Barbara will always be remembered for her kindness, the legacy of her children and grandchildren, and her ever present faith in God.