Barbara Jean Pollock-Walker

We are her children, offspring, family, friends, and her relations are endless, because her reach was “out of sight”.  Whatever our relation to Barbara, we know we have been blessed.  The questions we find ourselves contemplating at the time of Barbara passing are:  Who are we, in relation to her?  What influence has she had on us? Most importantly, who is Barbara? 

First and foremost, Barbara is a child of Our Father, she lovingly called, Abba Father.  She loves and is devoted to Abba Father, because of that love and devotion, she had the ability to heal and love so many. Her spirit is like a searchlight for many souls on this planet, and those who seek the light. Like the crystal prisms she collected, she reflected all the bright colors. Her aura was literally a rainbow.  Once she got her aura photographed, and it was a rainbow. She proudly showed me and said, “See!”  She said “see”, as if this is what she was trying to tell me all along.  It is true, my Mom is truly special, and she knew it!  She is a rainbow, made out of both the sunshine and rain.  She was appreciative of life; the good and the bad, the joy and the sorrow. 

Barbara Jean Pollock-Walker was born May 26, 1953, from the union of Roy (August 1, 1933- 2009) and Orlina (Alire) Pollock (March 3,1933-1999).  She was the third daughter born to Roy and Orlina.  Her sisters, Cyndi (Pollock) Archuleta (1951- ) and Deborah Pollock (1952-2003) also awesome, intelligent, and strong women who can move mountains!

Mom had three children; My oldest and loving brother, Sean Paul Hallam was born May 8, 1970, when mom was 17.  She was very happy to be a mother.  She had my beautiful sister Kerri on April 15, 1972.  Kerri recently passed, and received her angel wings on April 10, 2023, only a few months before mom.  Lastly, she had me, her baby, Brittany Danielle Yepsen on August 20, 1984.  Barbara has 7 grandchildren.  Abreah Griffin (1992), Logan Hallam (1994), Genesis Hallam (2000), Aedin McGonegal (2002), Jude Yepsen-Lopez (2014), and TruSara Yepsen-Spears (2023), and additionally, Barbara gained the best step-grandchild ever, Ashley Griffin (1988).  From Ashley and Genesis, Barbara is a Great Grandma of 2; Noah and Cassius.  We are her legacy.

Barbara and Cameron Scott Walker were married August 3, 1991, and were together for 32 years.  Their song when they got married was “Always and Forever” and their marriage stayed true to that tune.  They had a way of making each other laugh all the time.  From their marriage, the family gained Grandpa Rod and Grandma Sue Walker, Papa and Babe, and the rest of the Walker family.  They have been family through and through. They watch over us, and love us as their own.  Grandma Sue and Grandpa Rod make it clear that they love my mom, and she was their daughter, and we are their grandchildren.

                Barbara was a talented and diligent woman.  She loved learning and she choose occupations and professions in which she could serve people and make their lives better.  First, she got her beautician and medical esthetician’s license.  Her major achievements in this area are that she owned a couple of successful salons, she did the makeup for Mayor Webb’s ball, she did the makeup for her mother’s and sister’s funerals, and up until recent she kept her knowledge in this field fresh.  She gave her family facials, waxed eyebrows, taught how to put our makeup on, cut hair, and even pierced most of our ears, all the way until her hands began to shake.  Barbara also was an outstanding manager at AT&T, where she met Cameron. She received many awards indicating how efficient she was in leading and motivating people.  She took an Andrew Carnegie course of how “To Win Friends, and Influence People” and also several public speaking courses.  I loved when my mom would stand up in a gathering of any sort and speak up courageously, with style and grace.  Mom was so personable.  My mom was also extremely creative. After she had her stroke in her late 40s, she was going to her doctor’s appointments at Kaiser Permanente, and she was craving a coffee while she waited.  Well, the idea came to her that a coffee cart would be a nice addition in Kaiser, so people waiting could sip on a tasty beverage.  She went up to all the people necessary and pitched her idea. Before long she had Java Java, the first coffee cart in a Kaiser Permanente (that I know of).  She opened two coffee cart locations at Kaiser and now almost every Kaiser Permanente building has a coffee cart!  She was talented at finding a need and filling it.  As if all this wasn’t enough, Barbara found interest in the Real Estate Business.  She shined in this profession, because she really cared about people.  She found families beautiful houses when they felt out of luck.  She was lucky finding deals and negotiating with people and these qualities took her far.  There was nothing that Barbara felt that she couldn’t do, if she only put her mind to it.

                Abba Father decided to call our beloved Barbara home July 28, 2023. She went peaceful at her home surrounded by Love.  To us, she died way before her time, but the Lord has the ultimate plan. Medical complications of a kidney transplant and her blood clotting disease were the physical ailments that Barbara suffered, but suffers no more.  Her legacy will carry on. She was and is a light, and we saw firsthand how bright that light can shine!  Let her be the motivation we need to shine our lights as bright as we can!  We will sure miss our Majestic Matriarch, but she will be remembered, and her spirit will live on forever!  Vayas con Dios beloved Mama!

I will leave those who are reading with these little gems of my mom’s.  She would say at least one of these every day or every time we met.  

Barbara jean’s favorite things to say:

“It’s all groovy”

 “the beat goes on”

“Learn something new, and if you don’t learn something new, learn something old a little better”

“You’re a child of God, and with credentials like that you can do anything.”

 “Now Go, and do the right thing”

We love you Barbara, Barbie doll, babs, mom, maz, grandma, GMA B and Dear friend!

We will miss you and can’t wait to see you again!!!