Barbara Ann Jeffrey

Commissioner Barbara Ann (Garris) Jeffrey was born July 1, 1946 at her Aunt Lilly's home in Marion, NC. The country doctor who attended her birth died before he filed a birth certificate for baby Barbara. Barbara lived with her godly aunt for the first six years of her life. Aunt Lilly took her to church and along with her when she visited the sick, prepared meals and cleaned their houses. From this early age Barbara witnessed the example of serving others and took it to heart.
After Aunt Lilly's death from cancer Barbara moved in with her mother, Gladys and her step-father, Beau, siblings, Glenda, Melvin, John Wayne, and Mary. Beau was often drunk and absent for weeks and months at a time. Gladys worked long hard hours for little pay as a spinner in the cotton mill. Because Barbara was the oldest child at home, she assumed many responsibilities and the care of her siblings, meal preparation and housekeeping. Life was hard. Her family was so poor. Many times, she and her siblings went to bed hungry. She had only one dress to wear to school. Sometimes other girls would tease her about wearing the same dress every day. All her siblings took partook of the cigarettes and booze that were readily available but Barbara never, never did.
One providential day Barbara was playing softball with her brothers and sisters in the yard when she heard music and singing coming from down the street. Dropping the bat, she ran to find a group of people all dressed alike and playing instruments. After listening for a while, she ran back home and got her mother to follow her. "Mama," she asked, "who are these people?" Her mother replied," It's The Salvation Army! Hurry up! Get in the house they're going to take up a collection." Sometime later there was a knock at the door. A lady stood there dressed like one of the people down the street. She said, "I saw some children playing. Do they go to church anywhere? We'd be glad to come and pick them up and take them to Sunday school." Gladys replied, "No. They don't have nice enough clothes to go to church." Major Sadie Boyette responded, "They don't have to have nice clothes to come to The Salvation Army." The answer was still no. On Wednesday there was another knock at the door. There stood the Major with a bag of clothes. She asked, "Can they come now?"
In her teen years a new couple with children arrived, Captains Preston and Helen Leonard. They took Barbara under their wing and encouraged her to answer her calling as an officer. Barbara made her commitment to do so but it was opposed by her mother asking her to stay home and help her. Barbara relented and went to tell the captain she could not go to training. After leaving his office at the corps Barbara tripped and fell down a flight of stairs. The captain came to help her and said, "What is it you are not going to do?"
After graduating from high school, the only one of her siblings to do so, she was off to the School for Officers Training. There she made many new friends and enthusiastically engaged in the training regimen. However, in the back of her mind was the fear her family would come and make her go home. As a result, one day she was not able to get out of bed and was spitting up blood. Cadet Garris was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery for a bleeding ulcer. Captain Leonard was asked to bring Gladys to Atlanta. The attending physician said Barbara had lost so much blood she might not live another day. Her fellow cadets and SFOT staff held a prayer meeting as former SFOT Principal Lt. Colonel William Powell prayed outside the hospital room door. Barbara testifies she felt a warm sensation begin at her feet and move all the way to her head. The doctor came into her room and began removing tubes and needles and saying, "Looks like you will be going home tomorrow." The leadership of the Army was great allowing Barbara to remain in training.
Throughout 50 years as an officer Barbara never forgot her humble beginnings. No task was too small or too large for her. She continued to work hard, quick and organize things early on in life. One example was when Commissioner Eva Gaither asked her to organize a sizable storage room at National Headquarters. Commissioner Eva had made the same request to others before Barbara. So, Colonel Barbara Jeffrey rolled up her sleeves and went to work. After some weeks she invited Commissioner Eva to inspect the newly organized storage room. Commissioner Eva could hardly believe what she saw. Sometime later General Shaw Clifton came for a visit to NHQ. Commissioner Eva took the General along with Barbara down to the storage room. The General was so impressed and moved that he gave Barbara a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!
There will be a memorial service on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 11:00 AM at The Salvation Army Gwinnett County, 3455 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville, GA 30044. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider a memorial donation to the youth programs at: The Salvation Army of Gwinnett County 3455 Sugarloaf Parkway Lawrenceville GA 30044 in memory of Barbara Ann Jeffrey.
Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.wagesfuneralhome.com. Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, A Family Company, 3705 Highway 78 West, Snellville, GA 30039 (770-979-3200) has been entrusted with the arrangements.