Barbara Jean Jones (Nee’ Francis) of Wake Forest, NC, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, passed from this earthly life on December 9, 2022 after a brief illness. Barbara was born on July 2, 1940 in Seaboard NC to Leon Francis and Fannie Bell Francis (Nee’ Darden) and later moved to Skippers, VA where she would attend, and graduate early from Edward W. Wyatt High School in Emporia, VA. Barbara would go on to enroll at West Virginia State University where she would be given the nickname “Tippy” for her habit of walking on her tip-toes; a name to which many still refer to her. Later, she would marry, travel the world, and welcome three children Michael Kipling (Richmond, VA), Marland Herman (Malta), and Carmen Renee’ (New York, NY).

An avid globetrotter, Barbara began her travels early as a young student when she spent time living and working in Sub-Saharan West Africa. Barbara would go on to live in Germany and travel Europe and Asia before settling down in Wake Forest, NC, where she resided for 30+ years while becoming the quintessential matriarchal friend to all in her neighborhood. Over her last years, Barbara would travel to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Greece, Malta, and the United Kingdom. A proud member of the Haliwa-Saponi Native American Tribe, Barbara would spend her retirement attending local tribal events, enriching her knowledge through her love of reading, working in her garden, or doting on her beloved Yorkshire Terrier, Zoey.

Barbara is survived by her children; her sister V. Susie Oliphant (Hyattsville, MD); her grandchildren; Kellen, 33 and Nicholas, 6; her great grandchildren Mya 8, Lena 13, her niece, Kendall Johnson (Bowie, MD), and her nephew Johahn (Skip) Oliphant (Glen Dale, MD), and a multitude of family members and friends throughout North Carolina, Virginia, and New York. She is preceded in death by her mother, father, and grandson; Cherokee Marland.

A celebration of life service will be held at 1:00pm on 29 January 2023 at Cross+Main, 201 E Main St, Youngsville, NC 27596. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Saving Grace Animal Adoption through the website at www.savinggracenc.org (go to the menu and click on "Donate Now"...click on donate link and chose "in honor/memory of"; enter the email of crjones@aol.com)

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