Monday, May 17, 2021
MEMORIES OF BARBARA
It was the late Seventies. I lived in Grassland Estates; Barbara lived in Meadowgreen. We were organizing a committee to promote the building of schools in the North end of Williamson County. The majority of the County Commission lived in rural areas and, we were intent upon making them aware of our explosive growth and the necessity for schools in the Northern part of the county. The meeting was at our house.
This was my introduction to Barbara. She was wearing a little black and white print dress. I never forgot that dress … because I had one just like it in my closet! I knew right then we were going to be friends. And, we were. Our children attended Grassland Elementary School. We attended P.T.A. meetings, school board meetings and County Commission meetings. We lobbied for more schools to meet the growing educational needs of our end of the county. And, we became close friends. Quality education in all Williamson County schools became our mantra.
In 1982 we both decided to run for the school board to represent our respective districts. We attended neighborhood meetings, school and community events and knocked on doors. Then, in August, we both were elected to represent our own adjacent districts! Celebration!
But, whoa! The first official school board document that we received was a summons to appear in Federal Court in Nashville regarding a discrimination suit filed by a Williamson County teacher over a principalship at a County high school! What had we gotten ourselves into?
The teacher won the suit. And so, our first task on the board was to remove one of the four Williamson County High School principals and replace same with the litigant. This very first decision was in my opinion the most difficult made in my four years on the board. But, with much soul-searching, we followed the Court order.
As new board members, Barbara and I did our homework, listened to the more seasoned Board members and were frequently guided by the wise consultation of our School Board Attorney Connie Clark. Though Connie was of little assistance in our dilemma over whether to buy diesel or gasoline powered school buses… not exactly our area of expertise!
Barbara was a great problem-solver. In a Board meeting, she would raise her hand for recognition, and, in that soft-spoken way of hers, would define the issue at hand, then offer a solution and explain her reasoning. I would sit there thinking … “That’s so logical. Why didn’t I think of that?” Barbara was a dedicated educator and was a great asset to the Williamson County School Board.
Another contribution Barbara made to our community was in her position as Office Manager at Franklin Women’s Clinic. As much as the doctors and the medical staff, Barbara was the face of the Clinic. She was so knowledgeable and accommodating. If you had need to address the business office at the Clinic, you could not have had a more sympathetic ear than hers’. And when I moved to Foley, I met someone in Orange Beach, Jeanne Duffy, who was a friend of Barbara’s, having worked with her at the Women’s Clinic … Small world!
The many attributes that Barbara possessed … informed, logical, compassionate, as well as kind, funny, gentle and loving … made her the kind of person you would want for a friend, a leader, a decision-maker, an employee, a neighbor and/or a relative.
I feel very fortunate to have had Barbara as a dear friend. I moved away from Franklin in 2000 and except for a couple of visits back to Tennessee, our friendship consisted of phone calls. A great deal of our conversations entailed extensive discussions of our liberal political views, both of us being surrounded by conservatives.
I am so sorry that I did not have the opportunity to ride around town with Barbara in her little red convertible! What a joy that would have been! The old girls out for a spin around town … maybe drive by one of the Williamson County schools we were privileged to dedicate.
But, I am ever so grateful for the last in-person visit I had with Barbara. Thanks to Wanda and Don providing transportation, Barbara was able to attend my wedding June 9, 2018 in Gulf Shores. She met my new husband Bruce and was able to visit with my family … my daughter Jennie and grandson Mason almost 20 years after last seeing them … and my granddaughter Georgia, age 18, whom she had never seen. It was a joyous occasion, and I treasure the joy of that last time spent with her.
These are just some of my memories of Barbara. This world is a better place for having had Barbara in it, and I think we are all better people for having shared a portion of our lives with her. God bless Barbara, and God bless you all.
Jane Tyler
