Farrington Family

Velma Farrington, Jared Hill & Brandon Barrow.....This page is dedicated to these loved ones. Each of them also have their own page that you can by searching their individual name. We celebrate these three, Grandmother, Grandsons/Brothers.

• April 21, 2021 8:30am-9:30am| There will be a drive-by event (thanks to the brilliant thinking of Brandon and Jared’s Uncle Tony) at East Lawn Palms Mortuary and Cemetery, 5801 East Grant Road, Tucson, Arizona 85712, on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, between 8:30am-9:30am. This will be a first at East Lawn; we hope other funeral homes pick up on the idea. You will be able to pay your respects to Jeannie, Brandon and his brother Jared, all of whom will be celebrated at the same time with their pictures and urns on display under an East Lawn Palms green tent as you drive by. (Use the main entrance onto the East Lawn property from Grant Road and you will be directed toward the tent.) Sympathy cards will be accepted there as well as you move past the tent.

• April 21, 2021 10:30am| The family service will be livestreamed on Facebook Live http://www.eastlawnpalmsmortuary.com on April 21, 2021, at 10:30am. The link will be available for the service at 10:20am. The livestream will also be uploaded to the www.mem.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.mem.com website under Farrington Family. Though the Farrington Family site is currently under construction, please stop by www.mem.com soon where you may leave a message and photos with our loved ones.

*Velma Jean Jones Farrington

Sunrise: July 19, 1933 | Sunset: December 18, 2020

Affectionately known as Jeannie or Mom or Nana, Jeannie was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, to Arthur Jones and Mary Thomas Jones. She grew up in Greensboro, living a short time in Richmond, VA, before returning to her hometown. She was a Greensboro Dudley High School Panther where she was Homecoming Queen. She went on to HBCU Bennett College (yes, she was a “Bennett Belle”) in Greensboro and graduated with a degree in Library Sciences.

Jeannie met the love of her life at Dudley, the dashing Charles Edward “Chuck” Farrington, who relentlessly pursued her. (SHE was not interested at first.) They were married on May 1, 1952, while Chuck was in the United States Air Force. Chuck and Jeannie had two daughters, Sheri Lynne Farrington Hill, and Sondra Kaye Farrington. Sadly, the Farrington’s first pregnancy ended in the stillbirth delivery of their beautiful daughter, Sharon.

Jeannie was a busy wife and mother who, while working for the Civil Service, moved with her husband and young family without complaint after he returned from deployment to Korea to where he was stationed in Lowry AFB in Denver, CO; then Wright-Patterson AFB in Columbus OH; Itazuke AFB in Fukuoka, Japan; Chanute AFB, near Rantoul & Champaign IL; and then Scott AFB in Belleville IL where she and Chuck often took their little girls to see the construction of The Gateway Arch across the Mississippi River in St. Louis, MO.

The most intense year of their life together was the next year when Chuck was deployed to Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam which was attacked during the 1968 Tet Offensive. Jeannie’s brother, Kay Jones, had just returned from deployment in Vietnam and had connections to get her on the phone with her husband within hours. She learned he lost many friends in the barracks next to his, but he was safe.

Not to be outdone during the turbulent year of 1968, Jeannie faced a lockdown situation herself. She was in her office at work at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro when a riot broke out between rival Civil Rights factions, and her brick building was shot at several times. Bullet holes remain to this day in that building. That day Chuck, who worked in Communications, was able to reach Mom to be reassured of her safety.

She continued to write Chuck every single day about how the day had gone with the girls. It was the happiest day when we greeted him at the airport coming home and the smile on her face is unforgettable. Having her family safe & back together was her greatest joy (until Brandon arrived anyway).

Dad’s next assignment was Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, AZ, where he and Jeannie bought their first and then second homes. Jeannie worked for the Civil Service first at the Social Security Administration and later at US Customs. When she retired, Chuck and Jeannie started a joint Wedding Photography and Wedding Cake service and had so much fun getting dressed and heading out for their next wedding.

The second-best wedding they attended was when they renewed their vows on their 50th Wedding Anniversary. It was beautiful – of course, Jeannie was a natural “creative” and her family benefited mightily from it.

Throughout, they were devoted to their daughters going to every school event, game, and then attended all their school functions, games, programs, and graduations; then did the same for their grandchildren Brandon, Jared, and Chad Hill. (Jeannie continued to attend as often as she could programs and games of her great-grandchildren.) Chuck and Jeannie were thrilled to watch Jared graduate from The University of Arizona in Tucson.

Glenda Wilkins introduced them to Christ Community Church where they were incredibly involved. Jeannie taught 6th Grade Sunday School and Chuck was an Elder monitoring youth and children’s programs. Later, Martha Baker introduced them to Pantano Christian Church. In the last part of Jeannie’s life, she had great times playing Dominos with her friend Kay Medigovich and Joannie Clausen, as well as monthly luncheons with her friends affectionately known as “The Divas” a group started by her dear friend Marie Williams and included Doris Sanford, Susanne Clay, and many other retirees, including educators to community members.

Jeannie was preceded in death by her beloved husband Charles Edward “Chuck” Farrington, her grandson Jared Dustin Hill, parents Arthur and Mary Jones, In-laws Edgar and Moselle Keck Farrington, brother Arthur Kathaniel Jones (whose widow and Jeannie’s sister-in-law, Dr. Doris Alvina Jones, passed away about a month after Jeannie). She is survived by Sheri (Wendell) Hill and Sondra Farrington, her niece Tanya “Tammy” Jones, her granddaughters-in-love Samantha Lopez, Tierra Anderson, Stephanie Vega, Katie Clemins, Lisa Little, and her 8 beautiful grandchildren Dominic, Jaianna, D’Angelo, Kyson, Dez, Eliza, ”CJ” (Chad, Jr.) and Leiliana Hill; bonus granddaughters Tara, Autumn, Olivia, her sister-in-law Helen Smith, her god-daughter Gayle Dent, and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews and dear friends.

Jeannie has many friends, and her beautiful smile will be missed. Her daughters, #1 son (Wendell), grandchildren and great-grandchildren will forever have their Mom and Nana in their hearts.

There are several ways to honor the memories of Jeannie, Brandon, and Jared. Because of COVID-19 restrictions and the continuing pandemic, and in honor and memory of Brandon’s grandmother Nana (aka Jeannie) who died of COVID-19, private family services are being held on April 21, 2021, to protect our friends, especially Jeannie’s at-risk elderly and senior friends:

• PLEASE WEAR A MASK at every event.

Due to COVID guidance, there will be no repast following the service.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers and in honor of our beloved mother, VELMA JEAN “JEANNIE” FARRINGTON, we suggest that you get vaccinated (now open to age 16 years and up), continue wearing masks, observing social distancing, and follow CDC guidelines and medical experts. We would rather have Mom with us, and we know personally for a fact that COVID-19 is real and deadly. Let’s end this pandemic and save lives.

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Jared Dustin Hill

Sunrise: March 25, 1984 | Sunset: March 23, 2015

Jared Dustin Hill born on March 25, 1984, in Tucson, Arizona, passed on Monday, March 23, 2015. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Charles Farrington; grandmothers, Patricia Horton and Lillian Hill and uncle, Wally Hill. Jared is survived by his precious twin sons, D'Angelo and Kyson Hill; fiancée, Tierra Anderson; parents, Wendell and Sheri Hill; brothers, Brandon Hill and Chad (Samantha) Hill; grandmother, Jeannie Farrington; grandfathers, Walter Hill and Ernest Horton; aunts, Sondra Farrington and Angela Anderson and a host of family and friends. Jared graduated from Tucson Sahuaro High School and The University of Arizona with a degree in Journalism.

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Brandon Bertold Barrow

Sunrise: July 1, 1980 | Sunset: March 16, 2021

Brandon was born on July 1, 1980, at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach, California, to his parents Clyde and Sheri Barrow. He was – as his mother described him to his Godmother, Patricia Vasquez, “The most beautiful baby I’ve ever seen in my life!” Brandon’s early days were being known as the best dressed baby boy in Mission Viejo, his first home. Oddly, that description stuck with him his entire life.

Brandon moved with his Mom to Tucson when he was a very young, and he was curious about everything early on. When he was 4, he walked into the living room, pointed to the TV and said, “That’s Preg-a-dence Reagan over there! He learned to read early, enjoyed school and we noticed that starting in 5th grade, he always walked out of Schumaker Elementary surrounded by at least 5 girls.

He was quite a basketball player and the high school coaches were drooling over this tall kid who had set a record 7 3-pointers in a league game at Udall Recreation Center. His career was derailed when he was diagnosed with disseminated cocci (a more dangerous form of Valley Fever) that had created a pea-size hole through the bone in his hand. Doctors were concerned he’d permanently injure his hand.

An interesting fact about Brandon: After buying all the paper, #2 pencils, erasers and electric pencil sharpeners a kid could need to do their math homework, Brandon insisted on doing his College Algebra in red ink driving his mother nuts! When asked why he would not use the pencils provided, he said, “Mom! Will you just let me do my homework the way I want to?” [What his mother didn’t realize until much later in life, Brandon was just like her!] His teacher laughed and explained that Brandon sees an algebraic problem develop in his head. Most people have to write out the problem, work out the calculations, erase, start over, etc. He visualized the problem, the calculations and the answer. The teacher advised, “He’s just got a special talent. Don’t worry about it. Pick your battles!” Brandon noticed early on that his nephew Dominic had the exact same talent and nurtured it giving him complicated algebra problems they enjoyed doing together. He spent a lot of time visiting his nieces and nephews and there are thousands of pictures of them with him. Uncle B always made it a point to be involved in his nieces’ and nephews’ lives--he loved kids and was so incredibly good to them. They loved their Uncle B.

Brandon attended Central Arizona College where he studied Business. He developed his fashion sense working for Mr. Rags. He went on to work as a Legal Assistant at Dun & Bradstreet and later at Bursey & Associates. Most recently, Brandon worked for Enhanced Openings where he was committed to becoming top seller and moving his way up in the company. He achieved Top Revenue Producer just this past December 2020 and was so proud. He was a brilliant sales rep, loved talking to anyone and could sell any product or service to anyone! Seriously!!

Life went by, and many years later after high school, 22 years to be exact, in August 2019 Brandon reconnected with an old friend from Magee Junior High and Sahuaro High days--Lisa Marie Little (Perdomo). And then it happened: Brandon and Lisa fell in love at first sight that first night they hung out and he knew his whole world had changed. Lisa and her daughter, Olivia, became the loves of his life.Through shared pictures on social media throughout the pandemic, all were able to see and feel their true love for one another. They were each other’s soulmates, lovers, best friends, and did anything and everything together. Their love was so powerful because of mutual respect and understanding that came from putting God right in the center of their love. On Valentine’s Day, Brandon got down on one knee and proposed to Lisa--she said yes! They were to be married on the beach, just the two of them, this May in Florida. He was excited and so happy to start a new life with Lisa and her daughter Olivia.

Brandon was blessed with grandparents! He was preceded in death by his maternal Grandparents, Chuck and Jeannie Farrington, Grandparents Reginald and June Barrow, “Gama” Bonnie Holt, Grandma Pat Horton, and Grandparents Walter and Lillian Hill. The sudden untimely loss of Brandon's first little brother Jared Hill 6 years ago shook Brandon deeply along with his entire family. However, Jared is being reunited with Brandon, and they are being interred together, running buddies, side by side once again.

Brandon is survived by his parents, Sheri and Wendell Hill, and Clyde Barrow, his youngest brother Chad Hill, Auntie Sondra Farrington, grandfather Ernest “Pop” Horton, sister-in-loves Samantha Lopez, Tierra Anderson, Katie Clemins, Aunt Helen Smith, a host of aunts, uncles and cousins, 8 nieces and nephews (Dominic, Jaianna, D’Angelo, Kyson, Dez, Eliza, Chad, Jr., and his baby niece Leiliana who was most content sitting high on the shoulder of her 6’4” Uncle B), and, of course, his beloved bride-to-be Lisa, and her daughter Olivia.

There are several ways to honor the memories of Jeannie, Brandon and Jared. Because of COVID-19 restrictions and the continuing pandemic, and in honor and memory of Brandon’s grandmother Nana (aka Jeannie) who died of COVID-19, private family services are being held on April 21, 2021, to protect our friends, especially Jeannie’s at-risk, elderly and senior friends:

• PLEASE WEAR A MASK at every event.

• April 20, 2021 6-8pm| Brandon’s parents are hosting a Skate Celebration for Brandon and Jared who practically grew up in Skate Country East, 7980 E. 22nd St., on April 20, 2021, from 6:00pm-8:00pm. (BRING ANY PICTURES you have of Brandon to add to a clip display!) The Skate Celebration is a private party and the rink is open only to our guests at that time. We are close to maximum signups for the first 100 people, free admission and skate rental, however, if you missed out on the first 100 signup, you can still skate with us for $5.00 per person and skate rental (no cost if you’re not skating), however, YOU MUST BE ON THE GUEST LIST for admittance. PARENTS MUST ACCOMPANY AND SUPERVISE THEIR CHILDREN AT ALL TIMES. Please email Brandon’s mom Sheri Hill at [email protected] for more information and to be added to the guest list. Brandon wanted an annual family skate party: “This one’s for you, B!”

• April 21, 2021 8:30am-9:30am| There will be a drive-by event (thanks to the brilliant thinking of Brandon and Jared’s Uncle Tony Hill) at East Lawn Palms Mortuary and Cemetery, 5801 East Grant Road, Tucson, Arizona 85712, on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, between 8:30am-9:30am. This will be a first at East Lawn; we hope other funeral homes pick up on the idea. You’ll be able to pay your respects to Brandon, his grandmother Nana, and his brother Jared, all of whom will be celebrated at the same time with their pictures and urns on display under an East Lawn Palms green tent as you drive by. (Use the main entrance onto the East Lawn property from Grant Road and you will be directed toward the tent.) Sympathy cards will be accepted there as well as you move past the tent.

• April 21, 2021 10:30am| The family service will be livestreamed on Facebook Live http://www.eastlawnpalmsmortuary.com on April 21, 2021, at 10:30am. The link will be available for the service at 10:20am. The livestream will also be uploaded to the www.mem.com website under Farrington Family.

Though the Farrington Family site is currently under construction, please stop by www.mem.com soon and leave a message and share any photos you may have with our loved ones. Due to COVID guidance, there will be no repast following the service.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers and in honor of our beloved mother, VELMA JEAN “JEANNIE” FARRINGTON, we suggest that you get vaccinated (now open to age 16 years and up), continue wearing masks, observing social distancing, and follow CDC guidelines and medical experts. We would rather have Mom with us, and we know personally for a fact that COVID-19 is real and deadly. Let’s end this pandemic and save lives.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.eastlawnpalmsmortuary.com for the Barrow family.