Barbara Joyce Hunter was born October 1, 1942 to the late Henry Austin and Marzena Hunter in Cross Roads, Texas. She received her early education at Malakoff Elementary School and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1961. After graduating from High School, she relocated to Dallas, Texas for job opportunities. She furthered her education by obtaining her license from the Madam C.J. Walker Beauty School to become a hairstylist. She completed her course-work in 1962. Barbara truly enjoyed making her clients feel good on the inside by helping them look beautiful on the outside.

Barbara accepted Christ at an early age and joined Elam Baptist Church in Cross Roads, Texas. After relocating to Dallas, she enjoyed church affiliations with New Zion Church Baptist (Rev. R.M. Robinson), and Christian Missionary Baptist (Rev. S.L. Johnson) where she was an active member of the choir and mission group, served as a deaconess, and worked on anniversary committees. Her most recent home-church was with Antioch Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. Karry D. Wesley. She regularly attended the Noon Bible Study and had a special love for her Women's Sunday School. She was excited to sing with the Women of Worship Choir. Barbara looked forward to Tuesday night rehearsals and would invite family members to musicals. When her health began to decline, she chose to rest her tenor voice.

Barbara's career included Peerless Laundry, George & Raymond Beauty Shop, Charmaine's Beauty Salon, and Collins Radio. In 1968, she began her career with the United States Postal Service, Terminal Annex in Dallas, Texas where she worked on the Single Position Letter Sorting Machine (SPLSM) as an Operator and a Clerk in the Box Section. She continued the remainder of her working career with the USPS as a Clerk in the Box Section at the Dallas Main Post Office until she retired after 34 years of exemplary service.

Some of her hobbies included traveling, vacationing with her sisters to Nevada, Louisiana and Oklahoma, and attending sporting events. She loved music, mostly gospel, but R&B and jazz were also some of her favorites. In fact, she would frequently attend the Annual Houston Jazz Festival in Houston, Texas. She also enjoyed cooking with enthusiasm and eagerness for family gatherings and special moments such as the family fish fry's and her annual Super Bowl party where she cheerfully prepared spaghetti and her famous potato salad!

A signature statement of Barbara was her fond love of hats. She would wear stylish hats to church events and other significant celebrations of note to express her personal style!

On Tuesday, March 20, 2018, Barbara Joyce Hunter left her earthly body to join our Heavenly Father. She was preceded in death by her parents Henry Austin and Marzena Hunter; brothers, Guy Graves, Lee Allen Hunter and Walter Lewis Jackson; sisters, Marzena Robbie Lewis and Loraine Hunter.

Barbara Joyce Hunter leaves everlasting memories with her daughter Arlisa Hunter; sisters, Annie Jones, Eliza Hall, Mary Thomas and LaGloria Hunter; brothers Willie Hunter (Flora) and Benjamin Hunter (Elizabeth); nieces and nephews, other relatives, friends, and former co-workers.