Barbara was born on Wednesday November 8, 1944 in Panama City, Panama. She

was the second child of Lester Adolphus Ifill, Sf. and Myrtle Hilda Simpson Ifill. She

joined her brother Antonio Ifill Sr. and was soon joined by their sisters, Elfrieda,

Celia, Olivia, Melida, and their little sister Yolanda and little brother, Lester, Jr. on

their journey to the United States in 1959. Prior to their departure, Barbara attended

Liceo De Senoritas School, where she excelled, and she continued to excel in the

United States, where she attended John Adams High School in Jamaica, Queens. Her

Mother and Father went on to have two more children, Darlene and Sherrilyn, in the

United States-making Barbara the eldest sister often children.

She worked in the garment district in New York City after graduating from High

School and became an assistant buyer for Montgomery Ward. Later, she attended

New York State School of Nursing, where she achieved her Bachelor of Science in

Nursing and became a Registered Nurse, and worked in hospitals in Brooklyn, New

York. Barbara received her Master's in Education from Columbia University in New

York shortly thereafter. She went on to teach Nursing at Medgar Evers College and

Long Island University during the 1970s and 1980s. She mentored her younger sisters

in her profession, several of whom also became Registered Nurses. During this time,

she returned to Panama to teach in the hospital of her birth for a brief time in the

1970s. Before settling and raising her son David in Maryland, Barbara lived in New

Jersey and Hawaii and worked as a Private Duty Nurse. While in Maryland, she

continued in the service of Nursing, as a Nurse and later as a Supervisor at St.

Elizabeth's Health agency, helping men and women without housing, to navigate

their health issues. She also worked as a representative at a large pharmaceutical

company.

Throughout this time Barbara raised her son, supporting him in his love of music.

After retiring from Nursing, Barbara taught Spanish in the Public school systems of

Prince Georges County, and tutored Spanish for students in Baltimore County

Schools.

Barbara's upbringing in a Christian home fueled her love of music, and was the

foundation of her faith in Almighty God. She was an accomplished seamstress, an

amazing hostess, had a deep love of young people, a profound love of her siblings and

was a loving friend. Her sense of humor will be unforgettable and her love for her son

and God surpassed all. She was known for her exceptionally delicious potato salad,

her sense of style, and most of all her intense love for her family.

Barbara departed this life on Friday, May 24th, 2019 to be with the Lord. Barbara is

survived by her son David Ifill, seven of her siblings, Barbara's Sister Melida Shepard

and Brother Lester Ifill Jr. preceded her. She is also survived by brother-in-Iaw's

Domenico Parrilla, Lawrence Madison, Gregory Taylor and Ivo Knobloch; sister-in-

law's Sandra, Ifill and Darlene Barker-Ifill; countless nieces, nephews, cousins, great

nieces and nephews, and myriad of devoted friends.