Barbara Ann Blayton Richardson, Ph.D., age 88, died on September 8, 2024, in Richmond, VA.

Born the eldest of four to Dr. James B. and Alleyne H. Blayton, on May 16, 1936, Barbara lived a rich and rewarding life. She was a professor of Early Childhood Education at Pacific Oaks College, Christopher Newport College, and Winston-Salem State University. She was an advocate for children and a social worker. She was the Director of the Winston-Salem State University Child Development Center and had a private practice as an LCSW in Pasadena, CA. She was an elder member of the National Black Child Development Institute and a longtime National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) member.

She was also an artist in her own right, making and selling beaded jewelry and learning to draw at the age of 88. She was a photographer as well. She once took a photography trip to Morocco to further develop her skills. Earlier this year, two of her photographs were selected to be shown by the Cedarfield Photography Club.

Barbara was a collector of many things – orchids, owls, beads, clothes, Native American and African art. She also collected people from all walks of life. Barbara made friends everywhere she went – at the restaurant, at the local wine shop, at the clothing store, in the neighborhood.

Barbara loved to travel, and she loved to learn. One of her favorite places in the US was Sedona, Arizona. There she fell in love with Native American art and culture. Inspired by Dr. Asa Hilliard, historian and Egyptologist, Barbara went to Egypt twice with Dr. Hillard to learn about Egyptian history and culture. She also enjoyed trips to Alaska, Rio de Janeiro, Barcelona, Paris, Venice, Rome, and Florence to name a few.

Born at Whitaker Hospital in Newport News, VA, Barbara spent her childhood in Williamsburg, Virginia. She attended Palmer Memorial Institute in Sedalia, North Carolina for high school, graduating in 1954. She then went to Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, graduating with her bachelor's degree in 1958. After finishing college, Barbara worked in Boston, MA doing research at Harvard and as a social worker for the Department of Social Services. In 1961 Barbara decided to pursue a master's degree in Social Work which she completed at Howard University in 1963. After completing her degree, she worked with racially and culturally diverse families in New York City and Philadelphia providing family support services.

Barbara met her husband, George, while in graduate school. He was in medical school at Howard. They married in 1965 and had two children. Once George finished his medical program, Barbara and her family settled in Altadena, California. In addition to ensuring that Lisa and David received the best education, Barbara participated in social and political community organizations, tended her roses, and enjoyed swimming.

In the 1970s Barbara joined the faculty at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, CA. She taught courses in the Marriage, Family and Child Counseling degree program. In 1981 she earned her Ph.D. in Education at Claremont University in Pomona, CA. Her dissertation was titled, "Racism in Child Rearing: A Study of Black Mothers".

In the early 1980s, Barbara joined the Department of Education at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) in North Carolina as a faculty member and the Director of the WSSU Early Childcare Center. In 1986 she retired and went home to Williamsburg, VA to take care of her aging parents.

She is predeceased by her husband, Dr. George G. Richardson, her parents, James B. and Alleyne H. Blayton, her siblings, Betty Blayton, James B. Blayton, Jr., and her grandson, David B. Richardson.

She is survived by her children, Lisa R. Jackson and David K. Richardson, and their spouses Alden W. Jackson and Jocelyn Richardson, her grandchildren, Coleman B. Jackson, Cleo B. Jackson, Brandon J. Richardson, Miles J. Richardson, Xavier Pierre'Auguste, Jasmine Pierre'Auguste and spouse Johnathon Tamayo, 2 great-grandchildren, Lucia and Mateo Tamayo, and her brother Oscar H. Blayton and his spouse Bonnie Winston.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Sunday, November 10, 2024 from 3 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. at Cedarfield , 2300 Cedarfield Parkway, Henrico, VA 23233.