Vicki V. Burton-Owens

Vicki Vigal Barnes was born January 28,1960 to her mother Mary Alice Barnes in Shelby Mississippi in the comfort of her own home, weighing in at 13 lbs. “that was a big baby! She literally broke the scale. Literally!” says Mary “she used to run and hide up under the kitchen table with a spoon and jar full of peanut butter”. Mary and her family moved to Los Angeles Ca around 1963. Vicki graduated Manual Arts High School class of 1978 in Los Angeles Ca. She was known as the blond haired, social butterfly who had to be apart of every club there was on campus. “She was so Pro Manual Arts, it got on my nerves” says her high school and long-time best friend of forty-five years Ione known as “Jackson” which was coined by Vicki. Besides being captain of the Majorette Drill team, Vicki was apart of the Belly Dance Club, Leadership Club, Pep Club and African Dance to name a few. She loved Pep Rally’s. She was extremely known for her height and personality. She even lost “Most Popular” by 1 vote in high school. Vicki was a member of the Sugar Ray Robinson Youth Foundation program along side her sisters Tamika and Jo, where they would participate in the advanced hula hoop club. They also ran relay races with American Track and Field athlete Flo Jo. Vicki worked as a Hairstylist at The Broadway in the Crenshaw Shopping Center among other jobs. After High school Vicki was married and pregnant with her oldest son Eshman. Two Kids later in 1989 Vicki would relocate her family to the Inland Empire where she later had her two youngest children Giovanni and Nyjel. She worked as a Coach Operator for Omnitrans Transportation for 31 years. Vicki served as Vice President then later would become President of the (ERC) Employees Recreation Club where she would host many company trips. She was also a member of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1704. She was known for her over the top parties. She loved to attend Jazz Festivals and shopping for bargains and deals wherever she could. She was a very giving person always giving to her friends and family. She always made sure her kids were taken care of. Her many talents consists of hairstyling, interior decorating, wedding planning, makeup artist and event planning. Whenever Vicki sat under any form of teaching, gaining knowledge for herself, she would love to share this information educating anyone who was willing to listen. “I sleep peacefully at night, rest assured that my mother will be in heaven during that appointed time” says her oldest daughter Iyone. “Her relationship with Jesus Christ upon her departure is something that anyone can look to as a teachable moment for their lives”. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, it is never too late to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior over your life, and how you choose to spend this life will determine how you spend your after life. Vicki leaves to cherish fond memories of her mother Mary Alice Stroud and 5 children from oldest to youngest. Eshman (42), Romale (36), Iyone (31), Giovanni (28) and Nyjel (25). 8 grandchildren and 1 brother and 3 sisters, (Roderick, Jo, Kapra and Tina) and a host of cousins and relatives near and far. Vicki is received by her great grandmother Bertha, her oldest sister Tamika and one of her younger sisters Frankie.