Barbara was born October 28, 1942 in Cleveland, Ohio to parents Alfred and Lucille Lee. She was their 4th and last child. When she was a child, she was a tomboy who loved to ride bikes, play chubby, and jacks. She was known for making everyone around her laugh. Barbara and her siblings were very close. She was closest to her brother Butch, and wherever you saw one, you saw the other.

Barbara graduated from East Technical High School in 1961. She aspired to be a schoolteacher but went on to excel in various service jobs throughout her life. She worked at Sunrise of Assisted Living, where she cooked for the residents. She gained personal relationships with both the residents and the staff and became a favorite of everyone. She enjoyed being of service to others and was a truly devoted worker.

As the youngest of her siblings, she lived up to the little sister role to the fullest. Her sisters and brother took good care of her and looked out for her. Barbara was very supportive of her family as well. Anytime her family needed her, she was there. Whether it was babysitting her nieces and nephews while her siblings traveled, or completing household tasks for her dear Aunt Tommie Bea, she would do anything for her family.

‘Auntie Bob’, as her nieces and nephews affectionately called her, was the coolest Auntie ever. They all wanted her to babysit when their parents were away. She brought constant fun and laughs.

In 1979, Barbara gave birth to her daughter Tara, who was the joy of her life. Every decision she made from that day on circled around caring for her daughter. She gave all she had and when she could not, she called on her sisters and brother who made sure Tara was well traveled, well rounded, and knew the Lord. Tara went on to have three children and Barbara was there for every important event in their lives. She believed in protecting and supporting her family at all times. She loved them dearly.

Around 2004, Barbara moved to Campbell Court, a senior apartment building in Shaker Heights. Barbara dedicated the remainder of her life being of service to the residents in the building. She would take several walks a day to the store for those who couldn’t get out on their own, she would assist family members of the residents, and most importantly, she would advocate for them when things weren’t right. Unofficially, she was 411, security, numerous resident’s emergency contact, a caretaker, and when you needed it, a tell it like it is person.

Although Barbara grew up in church, she accepted Christ as her personal savior in 2007, shortly after her daughter. Her hobbies included watching Law and Order, playing solitaire, grilling with her brother, and sitting outside with the residents of her building. When her grandkids were asked words to describe their grandma, they said, “Easy going, protector, simple, tough, kind, and cool.”

In 2008, Barbara’s daughter was deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Barbara dropped everything and moved into Tara’s apartment to take care of her granddaughters in her absence. Tara was deployed for one year but Barbara insisted on staying an additional year while her daughter took the necessary time to get acclimated to being a civilian again.

Barbara leaves to cherish her memory, her daughter Tara Wallace (Jackie), granddaughters, Daja and Dionna Lee, grandson Ethan Wallace, Sisters Bessie Ransby (Arnold-deceased), Carol Moore (Charles-deceased), Brother Alfred Lee (Myra), and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.