Obituary of Barbara Richard

Barbara Hazel Jones, 74, born April 17, 1933 in Wetumka, Oklahoma, to Grant and Etta (Wood) Jones, and died on Monday, October 1, 2007. She graduated from Will Rogers High School in 1951, and married Tulsa attorney, Joe Richard, October 12, 1956. A Multi-talented artist, actress and song stylist, Barbara's oil paintings of African-American jazz and musicians done during the early 1970's are legendary and highly prized. During her teen years, she performed in several Tulsa Little Theatre productions, and also co-hosted a weekly show on Radio Station KAKC, as well as being considered the staff vocalist for radio station KOME. She was Will Rogers' swing band vocalist, the first Sophomore to ever fill that position. Competing in the Miss Tulsa Pageant in 1950, she presented a medley if her own impressions of several well-known pop and jazz singers. Later, she was vocalist for various bands at the old Stardust Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Kansas City. In the late 1960's, she opened her own jazz club, Barb's Upstream, in Tulsa. In addition to her husband, Joe, Barbara is survived by sons, Tom Richard, Tony Richard both of Tulsa, and Sam Richard of Houston; grandchildren: Sarah Richard, Samuel and Macy Richard; Sisters and brothers-in-law: Sally and Byron Todd, and Sue and Bob Passmore; nephews: Mitchell, Whit and Ronnie Todd, Jim and Joe Passmore; Nieces: Becki Todd Cheffey and Mary Jo Holman; and many grandnieces and grandnephews.