Barbara Alma May was born in Delhi, Louisiana on July 6, 1931 to Hayward and Alma May.Family lore says that she was a very proper, inquisitive, attractive, and demure young child, traits, that she retained throughout her lifetime.She grew up in her birthplace where she attended elementary school and graduated from the RichlandParishTraining School in June, 1948. She then entered and graduated from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.At Southern University Barbara majored in mathematics and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education. She also studied at LouisianaStateUniversity.
During her freshman year in undergraduate school she was pursued and “won over” by another freshman student who became the love of her life, her life long partner, Harold Davis Sr.When they met as freshmen in Biology class she knew deep down that he was the one for her, but tried not to like him They began a courtship in the second semester of that freshman year until and beyond their marriage on August 20, 1955 in Delhi at Cloud Creek Baptist Church, the same church where Barbara was baptized as a child.After marrying, Barbara taught in Bogalusa, Louisiana while Harold attended graduate school at the University of California at Berkeley.In 1956 she joined Harold in Oakland where they have remained until her passing...
Barbara began her teaching career in the Oakland Unified School District as an Algebra teacher at Woodrow Wilson Junior High School Barbara found herselfcounseling many of her students because in their words, “Mrs.. Davis you understand me, and you are a help to me “Her responsiveness to the demonstrated needs of studentsand her fervent desire to help children excel caused her to return to school to better prepare her to help children with life choices and challenges. She returned to school to earn a Master of Science degree in student counseling from CaliforniaStateUniversity, Hayward.Barbara went on to become a junior high school counselor at Frick and RooseveltJunior High Schools and retired as an administrator at McClymondsHigh School after thirty six years of service in the OUSD and forty years total in education.
Barbara joined the McGeeAvenueBaptistChurch in September, 1957. During her tenure as a member, and especially during her active yearsprior to the onslaught of her illness she could be counted on for creative and productive programs, teaching and training in various areas of church life, and support of the efforts of others (mentoring).. Her Christian faith and her professional expertise were beautifully intertwined to produce a model Christian lady. She remained a member until her demise, although illness curtailed her church activities, and eventually prevented her active involvement.
Barbara participated in various professional, social, and civic activities. Principal among those interests was her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
Barbara was referred to by many persons as an “old fashioned teacher” because of her belief that all children could achieve if provided with pertinent and appropriate tools and assistance, She devoted herself to that proposition, andtherefore found retirement to be exceedingly difficult notwithstanding constant encouragement to do so from her family, and the “decline” in the state of the educational systems. Her first grandchild, Brittnee was born in 1991 and the pending arrival of the second grandchild, Breahna became known in 1992. Barbara retired in1992 to become a near full time grandmother. She took up a “second residency” in San Diego so that she could spend as much time with the girls and their parents as possible.
Barbara loved to travel, entertain, cook, and play bridge but at the pinnacle of all she did was her family.She was a strong supporter, nurturer, adviser and cheerleader.There was nothing she wouldn’t do for her loved ones, always displaying a giving and generous heart.Even as Barbara became ill she continued to teach those around her the meaning of compassion, dignity, respect, adaptability and kindness. It is those gifts that constitute a significant part of her legacy, a legacy that will cause yet unborn generations to rise up and call her blessed.
Barbara went to be with her heavenly father in the early morning hours of July 26th, 2008.
Barbara is survived by her husband, Harold Sr.; son, Harold Jr.; daughter, Deborah Davis-Gillespie; son-in-law, Colonel William Gillespie, USMC; grand-daughters, Brittnee Lauren Davis Gillespie and Breahna Morgan Gillespie; siblings, Lawrence May, Caldwell Flood, Robertine McCaa, Katie Fluker, Patricia Flood, Calvin Flood, Ozzie Lee May, Pauline May, Hazel Jackson and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews and cousins.She was preceded in death by her parents Alma Black Flood andHayward May; brothers Ronnie Flood, Michael Flood and her sister Jacqueline Mitchell.
