Barbara Ann Carter

Growing up in a house that would become part of Fort Chaffee, the Carter family would move to Chicago for work, while Barbara was in high school. It was in Chicago she would see out the window of her science class, a fellow student practicing for JROTC at Waller High School in the Lincoln Park community of Chicago. That student would be her future husband, Wendall Fujibayashi.

She would leave school to marry Wendall and start a family with their first child, Wendy, Cheryl and Carter would follow after that, then Jitaro and Tom. During that time, Barbara would be along as Wendall raced the road courses in Wisconsin and Chicagoland area. Barbara, driving a VW Beetle, would even set fast lap times and lap records in the women’s division at Meadowdale Raceway in Carpentersville, Illinois. Giving everyone a glimpse of her adventurous fearless nature.

The neighborhood kids would come by the Fujibayashi household to not just hang out with the Fujibayashi 5, but to listen to Barbara recite poetry. One such poem “Lullaby” by Paul Dunbar, would captivate the eager ears. The emphasized southern drawl when she would say the line “Po’ little lamb” kept them hanging on for more. Barbara’s love for poetry and storytelling, would extend into bedtime when she would read the “Sugar Plum” poem to Wendy and Cheryl. Cheryl's most cherished memory of her mother is the moments when she would awaken one of them to witness the sunrise over Lake Michigan. Barbara would take the kids to the zoo or the park. A tradition her kids would carry on with their children, nieces, and nephews. Wendy would carry on Barbara’s ability to host parties and neighborhood children. Cheryl would carry on Barbara’s talent for craft making. The boys, Carter, Jitaro, and Tom? Most certainly her adventurous fearless nature. Ask them, they’ll gladly tell you.

When the grandchildren came along in the 1980’s she went from being “mom” to “Grandma Barb”. Each of the grandkids held a special place in her heart, and she started giving them a dollar bill for every year on their birthday. Then the grandchildren made her a great grandma, and what a GREAT Grandma she was to them all. Her smile on her 90th birthday lingered as her grandchildren and great-grandchildren gifted her a dollar for each year of her life.

A celebration of life service for Barbara will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, March 17 at McConnell Funeral Home Chapel, 137 N Main St, Greenwood, AR.

Barbara Carter was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Vina Carter, first husband, Wendall Fujibayashi and a grandson, Justin Fujibayashi. She is survived by her children, Wendy (John) Lambkin, Cheryl (Wayne) Rissmann, Carter (Tammy) Fujibayashi, Jitaro Fujibayashi and Thomas Fujibayashi. She was also survived by her 10 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

Attendees are encouraged to wear bright colors, animal print, or a fun hat just as Barbara Carter would wear.

To share a memory or leave a message for the family, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com.