Our beloved mother and grandmother, Barbara Jean Childress, born on September 15th, 1942, in Barnwell Alabama, died peacefully at her daughter’s home, surrounded by her family. We are saddened but find peace in knowing that she has claimed the glorious place in heaven God prepared for her.

Barbara and Gordon Childress married on June 15th, 1974, Barbara with three children and Gorden with four. Their new blended home was full of noise, chaos, joy, laughter and sometimes hardship, but their love and support for their children never faltered. As their older children moved toward adulthood, God saw fit to bless them with a wonderful surprise, a precious baby girl. They were simply giddy with joy and showered her with love and affection. She would forever be “the baby” or “Birdie”.

Barbara was an amazing mother and grandmother. Gordon was a good provider, and together they provided a loving home for their children. They welcomed each new grandchild into the family with as much joy and excitement as they had with the first. Barbara kept her house stocked with VCR tapes, games, toys, books, and snacks that they loved. She was always willing to look after them, taking them to the library, letting them crab off her pier, and playfully scaring them with stories about the "Royal Guygodius". Her grandchildren always felt blessed to go over to Granny’s house, especially on Thanksgiving and Christmas. She adored her grandchildren, and they adored her. They will miss their “Granny” terribly, but will always remember how present she was in their lives.

Barbara Jean loved her friends, including those in her Sunday school class. She always looked forward to Sunday service and seeing her lady friends. Her children affectionately called her lady friends “the Church Ladies”. The Church Ladies loved her legendary chicken salad, and she enjoyed making it for them. Barbara’s hobby and nature was doing for others.

Barbara is proceeded in death by her husband, William "Heavy" Gordon Childress, a good husband and father, her parents Lewis Charles "L.C" Bishop and Alice Louise Slocum Bishop, her grandmother Jessie Mae Fonden Weekes, her sister Donna Lynn Brantley, her grandchildren Christian Henderson and Ashley Henderson, her great grandchildren Darryl Seay and Adam Lloyd Brantley Jr, and her nephew Michael Willett. She thought about them often and her love for them never wavered.

She is survived by her children, Tammy June (Leon) Barber of Foley, AL, Sherrie Darlene (Jimmy) Henderson of Fairhope, AL, Charlene Mae Fuller of Fairhope, AL, Marcie Lynn (Jimmy) Payne of Fairhope, AL, William Gordon "Bill" Childress Jr., of Secaucus, NJ, Kimberly Kay Childress of Bay Minette, AL, Jamie Marie "Wendy" Comalander of Cintronelle, AL, and Brian Kelly Childress of Fairhope, AL. She is also survived by her brother Johnnie (Linda) Bishop of Fairhope, AL, and many, many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and a great great grandchild, and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Trent Howell, Dalton Howell, Landon Howell, Markus Meyers, Vinnie Pose, Grant Brantley, Adam Brantley, and Logan Brantley.

The entire family would like to extend our whole hearts, to Barbara's oldest child, Tammy Howell for her unwavering strength and fierce love for her mother and her care. Granny left this world for heaven in the most comfortable way, with all of it being made possible by Tammy.

A visitation for friends and family will start at 1:00pm on June 7th, 2026, at Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes, in Fairhope, AL. A service will begin at 2:00pm the same day, with interment at Brook-Cedron Cemetery, following the service. After the graveside, the family invites everyone to the Henderson residence for a meal, 9127 County Rd 11, Fairhope, AL 36532.