Irene X. Barefield, born Irene Barkley, passed away on November 29, 2020, at the age of 101. She was born on October 19, 1919, in Struthers, Ohio to the parents of Emanuel and Quincy Barkley. Her family moved to south Akron in 1925, where she attended Miller, Goodrich, and South High School. Irene later married K.V. Jackson in 1938. Irene was the mother of ten children and lived to see five generations.  In the year 1952, she married Edward X. Barefield and they were together for 44 years until his passing in 1996. Irene reclaimed the Islamic religion in the year 1967. Irene who was known as “Grandmother” as many of us called her, enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband Edward X. Barefield; parents Emanuel and Quincy Barkley; siblings, Joseph Earl, John -Thomas, Arthur, Jesse, Jimmy, Lillie, Ester, Francis, and Anna Pearl; children, Irene Dolores Muhammad, K.V. Jackson, Zelma X. Ferguson, Ester Battle, Georgia McCormick, Carlisa X. Jackson, and Charlene Jackson; grandsons, Ameer (Leroy) Saafir and Stephen (Stevie) Johnson.

She leaves to cherish her memory daughter, Asya Minter; sons, Tommy (Oradell) Jackson and Robert (Augustine) Rogers; grandchildren, Trinka, Kevin, Arlibera, Lisa, Alethea, Jacob, Qadriyyah, Sabreen, Raymond, Andrea, Charlie, Garland, Charlene, Terrance, Shu, Niecy, Shawn, Dannie, Robin, John, Stephanie, Staci, Grady, Jasper, Tony, Garvin, Tracy, Kijana, J’-Saun, Irene, Emanuel and a host of great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, great-great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, family, and friends.