Barbara Jean Neal-Long

I was born on August 16, 1938, on 12th and Dewey in Chandler, Oklahoma to John Henry and Annie Mae (Barnett) Neal. I was the eleventh child of fifteen children, eight boys and seven girls. Growing up, my brother Junior he called me Skeleton my brother Kenneth called me Longbow.

I loved the outdoors, and playing in the woods that were across from where I lived. Playing jacks, hopscotch, jumping rope and riding my homemade scooter were some of my favorite pastimes including riding my bike and enjoying the different colored parts to it. I loved to walk down the dirt roads without shoes so I could feel the mud between my toes. Most of the time I didn’t have any shoes to wear.

I liked getting into the water even though I never really learned how to swim, but I could dog paddle well. When I was 12, I got my first job cleaning houses for the Spragues and their children. I also worked helping my mom serving dinner and working in the restaurant. My first real paying job was working at the Marlow Diner on 13th and Broadway in OKC when I was seventeen years old.

I moved back to Chandler where I started cleaning houses again and doing restaurant work in the 1960’s. In 1967 I attended sewing classes at the Redland Community building with Mariah Whitehead and Fannie Mae Caldwell.

I did not like school very much, but I did like helping Mrs. Crumble with the school programs and I would help with making the costumes or cutting out all the letters. I also liked homemakers where I started learning how to sew. I later dropped out of school but after I had my family, I saw the need to better myself, so I went to OBU in Shawnee where I received my GED. Praise the Lord!

On July 6, 1981, in Chandler, Oklahoma I married Joe Eddie Long. With the saying his, hers and ours, we had 13 children together: Wayne, Sherry, Stanley, Herbert, Mitchell, David, Delma, Pamela Regina, Calvin, VaRita, Shawn and Angelika.

In 1982, I worked as a teacher’s aide. Then in April 1983, I became the coordinator at Head Start. After leaving Head Start, I stayed home for a while and later in 1983 I started working at the Chandler Nursing Home where I worked on the west end. While there, I earned my Nurse’s Aide Certificate. I loved my job working with Joe, Connie, Marie, Eddie, Bozo, Shirley, Corene and other names I have forgotten.

After about a year, I started working as a Home Provider taking care of Jean Haywood. I went on to care for Peggy Walker and her son Terry. What a joy it was to care for them. Peggy became ill and had to be put in the nursing home and Terry moved with his sister in Broken Arrow. Joe and I saw a need in the foster care system and decided to become foster parents. We had over 100 children come into our home.

I loved the Lord! I became a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, later named the Mt. Calvary First Baptist Church at the age of 12 and I remained a member until 1972. I drifted away now and then and in 1972 I became a member of the Central Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Gilmore, then under the leadership of Rev. James E. Reed, Sr. In January 2010 I moved my membership to First Baptist Church under the leadership of Brother Rick Blackwell. I loved my church, my brothers and sisters…she is now at peace.

I was preceded in death by my parents John Henry and Annie Neal, my loving husband Joe Eddie Long, my daughter Sherry Parker-Caldwell and son Wayne Long, my eight brothers: Emery, Henry, Otis, Fendrick, John Jr., Hershel, Kenneth and Alvin; my six sisters: Rosalee, Dollie, Octavia, Maggaline, Peggy and Ollie.

I leave to cherish my memory, Nephew/Brother Eddie (Wilma) Holland, my daughters: Pamela J. Naff-Anderson, VaRita Parker, Jackie Holland (my niece/daughter), Regina Long and Angelika (Siera) Mukes; my sons: Mitchell (Glendia) Naff, Delma Naff, Shawn (Chelsea) Long; Stanley (Bonita) Long, Herbert Long, David Long and Calvin Long. Eighteen (18) Grandchildren: George (Torrey) Parker II, Tasha Parker, Rafael Ervin, Natalie Hunter, BarbaraMichelle (Sadarius) Slaughter, Sheree (Trayron) Nelson, Christopher Joe Long, Stephanie (Dan) Gunn, Ariyah & Zendaya Mukes, Anderson Joe and Teddy Long; Wesley (Kelly) Long, Marianne (Maurice) White; Tiana Smith, Tiffany Long (Robert); Tyrone Long and Jennifer Ware; Thirty-two (32) great grandchildren and Three (3) great-great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.