Barbara Ballow Baker

Barbara Ann Ballow Baker was born on April 28, 1945, in Orange, Texas, to Charles Ballow and Della Mozelle Peterson Ballow. She passed away in the early morning hours of Tuesday, July 14, 2026. As the youngest of three children and the only girl, Barbara was treasured by her parents and her brothers, Poochie and Jerry. Her childhood days were divided between time on the family farm and hanging around the family’s diner or their service station, exploring their small town. Some of her favorite memories were of sitting and reading among the tombstones in the downtown cemetery or sitting in on court cases in the courthouse.
Barbara met Gilbert Baker in high school and they fell in love. They married and soon welcomed their first son, Antony, followed by daughter, Tabatha, and a year later by son, Dowell.
Barbara supported Gilbert as he completed college and then they moved to Austin where he began his career with Beall’s Department Stores. They lived in Austin for several years before relocating back to East Texas, choosing to settle in Jacksonville. They lived in Jacksonville for the remainder of their lives. 
Much of Barbara’s social life revolved around church activities and around supporting Gilbert in his career, often referring to herself as “Gilbert’s trophy wife”. She hosted many parties and socials for friends, work acquaintances, and family. All who knew Barbara knew that she had quite a sense of humor and loved practical jokes. She once had “Hillary Clinton” call a staunchly Republican friend on his birthday. On another occasion, Gilbert fell through the attic floor, leaving a hole in the living room ceiling. Barbara made the best of it, shoving a pair of Santa pants into the hole so it appeared Santa was coming down!
Barbara’s parents, Nana and Papa, were aging yet they were still working very hard at farming. The family was worried about them, so Barbara and Gilbert opened a plant nursery for her parents to operate. Barbara saw to the business side of things while Nana and Papa handled the plant growing and care. Barbara continued operating N&P Plant Farm and Cole Flower Mart in Henderson alongside her sister-in-law, Sue, even after Papa passed away and Nana retired to stay home.
Barbara and Gilbert (BB and Durr or Grandpa, as the grandkids knew them) enjoyed having grandchildren. Durr went to many games and school events of the kids and BB enjoyed taking them junk shopping and garage saleing, a passion she was known to enjoy. The family understood that when she said she had bought something at Neiman Marcus, she had found it at a garage sale. The grandkids came in pairs, so they took each pair on a big trip when they were around twelve. As the kids got older, they supported them in their activities financially or by providing work opportunities for them to earn money. Anastasia and Bryan spent a lot of time scooping goat pens and painting.
BB wasn’t confined by tradition or typical thinking. She sent Victoria a birthday card with an owl and a sweet note, not because it was Victoria’s birthday but because she knew Victoria liked owls. At one holiday meal, family was shocked to find a dead hummingbird bird on the table. When questioned, she simply said she had found it in the yard and thought it was beautiful and worthy of decorating the table. At one time, Barbara had a dog costume which she would don to the delight of the kids in the church or around town, strutting around under the name of “Diggity Dog”. Because of her difficulty of parting with stuff, she had a reputation as the person who had anything someone might need. Friends often called her to ask her if she had one thing or another, thinking surely, they would stump her this time, but she always came through.
Since Gilbert’s passing in 2015, Barbara has grieved his loss but continued on. In recent years her health has continued to decline until she was unable to live in her home. She moved to Country Place Assisted Living, and it was there that she passed away after a short illness.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Mozelle Ballow, her brother Poochie Ballow, her daughter Tabatha Baker Ainsworth, and the love of her life, Gilbert Baker. 
Remembering her are sons Antony Baker and wife, Melina, and Dowell Baker and wife, Tammy. Also, her sister-in-law Sue Sears and husband Bill, and Jerry Ballow and wife, Sylvia as well as several nieces and nephews. Grandkids include Bryan Baker and former wife, Morgan Baker, Anastasia Wilford and husband John, Colby Latta and husband Dylan, Victoria Boutet and husband Alexandre, Alexander Baker, Alexis Stevens and husband Terrance, Hezekiah Ainsworth, and TaCameron Stubblefield and wife Alysa. Great grandkids are also plentiful, including Lexi Baker, Jonah Pierce, Aden Castillo and fiancée Meadow Mittlestadt, Natalie Boutet, Christian Fields, Bentley Baker, Brilynn Hines, Maci Baker, Gabriel Boutet, Logan Stevens, Alina Boutet, Talyn Latta, Eloise Boutet, Briar Stubblefield, Rowyn Latta, and Blair Stubblefield.
The family invites friends and loved ones to join them in celebrating Barbara’s life at the Gallatin Missionary Baptist Church in Gallatin, Texas on July 23rd at 6:00 pm. Family will join together at a later time to scatter her ashes.
Special thanks to Country Place and its staff for providing a safe comfortable home for BB in her final days.