Barbara Northcutt Breard

Barbara was born in Florence Nightingale Hospital in Dallas on December 1, 1938, the only child of Bess and Bruce Northcutt. She graduated from Adamson High School in 1956, where she and her teammate won the Texas Debate Championship, and won 2nd place in the national finals held in San Francisco. Barbara was also selected to be Miss Firecracker and rode in the July 4th parade in Oak Cliff.

Barbara attended SMU for 2 years on scholarship and pledged Delta Gamma. She continued her studies and attained a degree in business at the University of North Texas in 1960. She found employment at Ted Workman Advertising as an account representative.

In July 1962, Barbara went on a blind date with Jack “Rick” Breard at Campisi’s Egyptian Restaurant, then attended a concert by Ray Charles at the Dallas Memorial Auditorium. They became engaged on September 27th and married on December 8th, 1962, with Dr. W.A. Criswell officiating at the First Baptist Church in Dallas. On November 10, 1966, the Breards celebrated the birth of their only child, Jack Hendricks Breard III.

While in Dallas, Barbara co-chaired the Cerebral Palsy Ball at the new Hyatt Regency at Reunion in 1978. She was also active with The Arts Community Alliance (TACA) in its early years. She was a member of the Dallas Woman’s Club and Marianne Scruggs Garden Club.

In 1986, upon Rick’s promotion to VP/Director of Marketing at EBSCO Industries, the Breards relocated to its Birmingham, Alabama headquarters. They built a very contemporary house at 1 Easy Street in Mountain Brook. In Birmingham, Barbara again became active in charitable affairs, co-chairing the first Mad Hatter’s Luncheon to benefit breast cancer research. She also co-chaired the Alabama Symphony Show House in the mid-90’s.

Upon Rick’s retirement in 2008, the Breards returned to Dallas and lived at The Warrington until 2022, when they were welcomed at The Ventana where Barbara received excellent medical care. She died peacefully after a brief illness on July 12, 2026.

In addition to her devoted husband of 63 years, Barbara is survived by her son Jack H. Breard III, his wife Debbie Norman Breard, and her four grandchildren; Corey Norman, Courtney N. Wuensche (husband, Ross Wuensche), Jack H. Breard IV (Jackson”) and Reneau Breard. Courtney recently made Barbara and Rick great-grandparents with the birth of Barrett “Bear” Morgan Wuensche on May 19, 2026. She is also survived by cousins Phil (Sue) and Barry Maxwell and Rick’s loving extended family.

The family extends eternal gratitude to Barbara’s caregivers Chipo, Kay and Ellen.

A memorial service will be held at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home in Memorial Chapel, 7405 West Northwest Highway in Dallas on Tuesday, July 21, at 2:00 p.m.

Donations in her name would be welcome at Park Cities Baptist Church, 3933 Northwest Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75225.