Barbara Ann Blake was born January 19, 1956 in Hampton County, South Carolina to Deacon Walter Nathaniel Gordon and Mother Sudie Smith Gordon. She was a happy graduate of Estill High School, where, due to her Academic Excellence, she received her diploma one year early in 1973. That same year, on the First Day of September, Barbara joined in Holy Matrimony with Willie Blake, Jr., whom she often referred to as the “Love of her Life”. Sadly, their Love Story came to an untimely end at the beginning of their marriage, when Willie suddenly passed, but not before she gave birth to her two sons, Mike and Theo.
Moving forward, Barbara continued a few more years working for the Hampton County Bank. She then transitioned in 1986 and captured her career with the United States Postal Service, where she Ambitiously Served for almost Three Decades! She began her legacy with the Postal Service as a Postal Letter Carrier, then later on advanced to City Carrier Supervisor and ULTIMATELY Obtained and Sustained her reign as Post Master of Ridgeland, South Carolina. Oh, how she loved the Postal Service, and she generously shared Stories and Opportunities with numerous Friends & Family.
During those years, Barbara married again to Nathaniel Johnson in 1991 and moved to Garden City, GA with her two sons. There she gained a daughter, Natalie Johnson, whom Nathaniel had from his previous spouse, who unfortunately died at a young age, just as Willie did. Despite sharing several years of Fond Memories and Great Times, they unfortunately and peacefully parted ways.
A few years later, Barbara decided to Spread her Wings and See the World. Although, she’s always been known as a traveler, she took vacationing to an entirely different level as she and Charles Heyward, her Much Loved, Dear & Close Friend, started Globe Hopping. YES…you name it…they explored it….. Africa, Australia, Thailand, Europe, the Shore Lines of Various Islands and MANY Places in between. Barbara and Heyward made it their Mission to see as much of GOD’S Green Earth as Humanly Possible and often encouraged loved ones to join in on the fun. She actually commented on Facebook that she was blessed enough to visit ALL the Continents except for Antarctica, but she WAS planning on seeing it, as well.
And on early October 13, 2013, GOD allowed Barbara to embark on one of the MOST Exhilarating Trips of her life….to HEAVEN.
In Closing, if we had to Sum Up Barbara’s Life with Seven Words, which is the Number Associated with Completion…..those Words would DEFINITELY be…....
DRIVEN……GIVING.….CONCERNED…..ADVENTUROUS..…CLASSY…..BEAUTIFUL…..ANGEL.
True, Barbara will be sorely missed by ALL that she encountered but anyone who knew her, surely knows that she LIVED HER LIFE TO THE FULLEST and would STRONGLY Encourage ALL of Us to do the same. So, PLEASE….never let Her Light Go Dim and Rejoice as we FOREVER Remember the Radiance of her SPIRIT.
Three Brothers: David, Elder Matthew and Perry Lee, as well as her father, Deacon Nathaniel Gordon preceded her in death.
She leaves to cherish her memories: Her two loving sons: Mike Blake, Augusta, GA and Theo (Cecelia) Blake, Atlanta, GA; Her most cherished grand-children: Jasmine Blake, Garnett, SC, Chase & Riley Blake, Atlanta, GA; Her mother, Mother Sudie Gordon, Estill, SC; One sister, Elder Maude Saunders, Estill, SC; Four brothers: Johnnie (Thomasina) Gordon, Varnville, SC, Eloan (Louise) Gordon, Hampton, SC, Orin (Justine) Gordon, Nixville, SC, and Randolph (Gloria) Gordon, Nixville, SC; A step-daughter, Natalie Johnson of Atlanta, GA; Two mothers-in-law: Minnie Lee Johnson, Savannah, GA and Lucille White Blake, Garnett, SC; Seven sisters-in-law: Carolyn (David) Ware, Springfield, MA, Luellen Blake, Garnett, SC, Beulah Mikell, Nixville, SC, Lillie Mae Gordon, Estill, SC, Deborah (Anthony) Simmons, Lee Ester (Robert, Jr.) Bryant, and Kitty Johnson, all of Savannah, GA; Four brothers-in-law: Frank (Releria) Blake, Garnett, SC, David (Wanda) Blake, Estill, SC, Curtis (Sandera) Johnson and Leon (Dorris) Johnson, all of Savannah, GA; One god-child, Rachel Risher, Hampton County; A host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, many friends and loving companion Charles Heyward.
