Obituary

Barbara Elizabeth Jones Davis Chitwood

August 24, 1944 - July 26, 2023

Barbara Elizabeth Jones Davis Chitwood, born in Magee, Mississippi, lived her life of 79 years. She passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. Ms. Chitwood was the second child of mother Lora Jones and father the Reverend B. Alfred Jones and Arline Jones. She has one son, John Michael Chitwood and two grandchildren, MacKenzie (12) and Logan (10) of Slidell, Louisiana.

Ms. Chitwood was a learned educator, receiving an undergraduate teaching degree from William Carey University, a Masters Degree from The University of Mississippi, and a Reading Specialist degree from Southeastern Louisiana University. She taught school for 42 years, teaching different grade levels and subjects at Franklinton Jr High and High School and Bowling Green School. One of her greatest accomplishments was teaching first graders from a rural underprivileged school system how to read. One of her greatest experiences was teaching NFL running back, Walter Payton, the joy of reading Shakespeare. Ms. Chitwood had a "thirst" for reading, especially the classics. She always knew the trivia answers to any Literature question.

Barbara Chitwood was a wonderful, caring teacher who genuinely loved her students. When she got into trouble with her principal, Ms. Young, her students came to her defense. She taught her students the love of reading different genres of books, and how to write clearly so that their writing was grammatically correct. She read all her student's term papers thoroughly, and graded each one with meaning.

Ms. Chitwood helped establish several hometown Little Theaters. She directed and starred in community plays. Her big theatrical experience came when she was cast in a Hollywood movie, "Ode to Billy Joe."

Ms. Barbara loved to sing alto with her sisters, Betty and Beverly. They were known as The Three B's or the Stick Sisters. It was not unusual for the sisters to stand on the counter in their home kitchen with each one holding brooms for their guitars. They would travel with their father to sing on the radio before he preached his sermon, and would sing and entertain at several community events. The three sisters had a musical unique sound, or tight harmony, that everyone seemed to enjoy. Of course the songs had to be gospel or otherwise it would have been a sin.

Barbara is preceded in death by her mother, Lora Jones, her father, B. Alfred Jones and wife, Arline, two brothers, Ben Jones Jr. and Brannon Jones, and niece Jan Mcgomery. 

Barbara is survived by one son, John Michael Chitwood, and 2 grandchildren, MacKenzie and Logan Chitwood, a sister, Bettye Elliott and brother-in-law, Michael Elliott, a sister, Beverly Young, a sister, Charlene Buckley and brother-in-law, Tim Buckley of Columbia, MS, a brother, Craig Tally and wife, Anita Tally of Missouri, and a sister-in-law, Martha Jones of Franklinton. Barbara is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

"Celebration of Life" for Barbara, will be at First Baptist Church of Franklinton (903 Cleveland Street) on Sunday, July 30th, at 2:00 P.M. The family will receive guests at 1:30 prior to the celebration.

The family offers their sincere gratitude to the St. Tammany Hospice System.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to First Baptist Church, ACTs 1:8 Ministries, 950 Self Street, Franklinton, LA, 70438.