David Crain
Imagine believing so strongly in something that you devote your entire life to it. Having something to believe in, working at something, believing your life has meaning. Barbara did that. Born to sing, an extended family “sister” to me, we were just a couple of kids from Springdale who see-sawed our ways through learning the music and theatre arts. We both earned scholarships to the University of Arkansas’s music program. As Freshmen, we became members of the world-renowned Schola Cantorum chorus that won the International Polyphonic Competition in Arezzo, Italy. Then in our Sophomore year, we both auditioned for the U.S. State Department U.S.O. tour of Europe with the UofA Uarkettes, winning the gig as leads in the jazz opera, “archy and mehitabel”. And, off to Europe we went for an entire semester of entertaining America’s foreign based military personnel. Barbara played the jazzy alley catress; I was the night writer cockroach at a Paris newspaper who penned her nightly cat antics. The soldiers throughout Europe whooped and hollered at our nutty characters.
Again, our lives weaved together, years between meetings. After college, I went on to join superstar Johnny Mathis is his world tours. Later. Barbara and her hubby stayed with me in NYC where she wowed New Yorkers with her powerful blues voice. Another time she stayed with me and my partner, a Hollywood tv mogul, to audition for a special appearance on his “Love Boat” tv show. It was always a family affair. When my folks, Gilbert & Mildred Sisco of Springdale, died in a car accident on their way to the horse races in Hot Springs, Barbara was there to comfort me through all the grief. These are private moments I want to share because despite our times of not seeing one another, there was always the love of friends between Barbara and me. I am saddened to have learned she passed without my being able to say “bye, see ya”. Nevertheless, nothing ever really ends, does it? There’ll be another time another place we’ll meet.
All the students at the UofA who she supported through her foundation are fortunate to have known this kind, multi-talented and lively woman. She has been a gift to all who were fortunate to know her. Sleep in peace, dear little “sister” Barbara. With great fondness, David Crain, Author/Novelist, Santa Cruz, California, a native son of Springdale/Fayetteville.