Rev. Barbara Fountain Mason

Obituary The Life and Legacy of Reverend Barbara Fountain Mason Reverend Barbara (Bobbie) Fountain Mason was born in Garland (Texarkana), Arkansas on February 6, 1939, to Johnie Lee and Eddie Lee Fountain, Sr. The family moved to Kansas City, Missouri when Reverend Mason was a child, and the Fountain family lived at 2542 Woodland Avenue, where Reverend Mason grew up in a home surrounded by extended family including the praying matriarch, her grandmother Fannie Adams Brown, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. The “Big House” was full of wonderful memories, laughter, love, and delicious family meals. Rev. Mason attended R.T. Cole and graduated from Manual High School. While in high school, she married William Lawrence (Gib) Mason, who affectionately called her Passion Pie. They soon welcomed their first child, Johnnie Ann, and 16 years after being told that she had less than a five percent chance of having another child, she gave birth to Lawrencina. Since she and Gib were in their 30’s, people often referred to them as Abraham and Sarah. In their family, names have special significance. Johnnie Ann, who was named after both of her grandmothers, was often called JOY, and Lawrencina, who was named after her dad, was called the miracle baby and Barbara, Jr. As a young married couple, Rev. Mason and her husband, Deacon William Lawrence Mason, worshipped at Prince of Peace Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Charles L. Williams, Sr. and wife Ruth Williams. At Prince of Peace, they met several lifelong friends including Pastor Joseph Clark and Mrs. Ollie Clark, Mrs. Polly Cole Allen, Deacon Huey and Mrs. Ethel Smith, Mrs. Ollie Flowers, and Ms. Beverly Jasper and her sisters and brothers. After her husband, Deacon Mason, left Prince of Peace and joined the Worldwide Church of God, Rev. Mason developed an unquenching thirst for God’s word and committed herself to studying the Bible and sharing the good news with others. While on this journey, she began worshipping at Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church and from 1974 – 1990, she served as Director of Christian Education, under the leadership of the late Pastor Emeritus Wallace S. Hartsfield Sr. Rev. Mason was proud to serve under Pastor Hartsfield and had great respect and admiration for him. She was forever grateful that Pastor Hartsfield noticed her passion and thirst for studying God’s word, gave her the opportunity to serve in the church, believed in her potential, empowered her as the Director of Christian Education, and authorized the church to financially support her educational pursuits. While serving as the MMBC Director of Christian Education, Rev. Mason developed the WSH Ministry which included the WSH Summer Camp; Health Education Ministry (HEM); Noonday Prayer; Teacher Training Program; Crisis Ministry; Mercy Ministry; and Business and Professional League. She was supported by the amazing Christian Education duo of Deacon Theotis Watson, who served as the Chair of the Board of Christian Education, and Reverend Marsha Perkins, who co-taught the Teacher Training Class and was Rev. Mason’s right hand. Rev. Mason’s heart was in discovering gifts in people and providing them opportunities to serve. In addition to the Teacher Training Class, which produced several ministers and church leaders, the WSH Summer Camp was another impactful ministry. The purpose of the camp was to help children grow morally, socially, and spiritually. The camp not only provided a safe place for children to have fun and learn about God, but it also provided a place for older youth to work as junior counselors and develop important leadership skills. Her niece, Edwina Fountain-Jones and her daughter, Lawrencina, served as counselors. Some of the charter camp staff included Mrs. Matilda Hartsfield, Mrs. Theresa Webster, Ruby Hartsfield, Mrs. Lois Ellison, Bernita Shaw, Anita Wash, Mrs. Emma McFarlin, Rev. William Sanders, Mrs. Meri Collins, Rev. Rodney Webster, Deidre Harvey, and Mrs. Eula Johnson. Rev. Mason, who earned a BS in Church Educational Studies from Calvary Bible College; MA in Elementary Education Administration, University of Missouri at Kansas City (UMKC); and MA in Religious Studies, is a teacher at heart. During her time at Metropolitan, she felt led to not only provide religious educational training at her home church, but she wanted to provide it to others, as well. She formed the Dove Bible Training Institute and served as President, and she frequently taught at the state and national Baptist Conventions. In June of 1990, shortly after completing graduate studies at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, KS, Rev. Mason was approached by a placement counselor to send her resume to a church in the Twin Cities. She interviewed for the Associate Pastor position at Zion Baptist Church and served in this position for a few years. After leaving Zion, she worked at the Minneapolis Council of Churches as the Director of Ecumenical Partners, where her responsibilities included bringing churches with diverse religious and racial backgrounds together. It was while in this role, she met Rev. Richard Coleman who prayed with her to find a church home. Shortly thereafter in September of 1993, the Little Flock Community of Faith church was born in her heart. On March 30, 1994, four friends met with her at her home to discuss the development of the church. The church’s mission was to provide pastoral care, to build people up in the faith by developing families (flocks), and to do the work of the Ministry (Ephesians 4:11-15). On September 6, 1994, Little Flock had its first Family & Friends Day and her niece, Staci Moore, was one of the first members. Little Flock ministries included Prayer Meeting and Bible Study, Prayer Breakfasts, Lay Ministry, Care Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Usher Ministry, Trustees, Sunday School, Fellowship Ministry, Hostess Ministry, Music Ministry, and Vacation Bible School. At Little Flock, Rev. Mason took her role as the church shepherd very serious, and she loved being able to comfort, love, and guide families (flocks) through the hills and valleys of life. While in Minnesota, Rev. Mason also worked in special education in the Robbinsdale School District, worked as a Chaplain for Hennepin County Medical Center, and served on several boards including the Salvation Army, League of Women Voters, and the Mayor’s Council on Diversity and Ecumenical Partners. She also received numerous awards including the Minneapolis YWCA Woman of Distinction award and was selected for inclusion in Who’s Who Among American Women. In May of 2016, after serving as the Pastor of Little Flock for 22 years, Reverend Mason retired from her pastoral role. Family and friends from Minnesota and Kansas City helped her celebrate this significant milestone. Members of her hometown church, Metropolitan, traveled to Minnesota to celebrate with her, and Pastor Dr. Wallace S.Hartsfield II gave an uplifting farewell address at the retirement celebration service. Although she was retired from serving as a pastor, she did not retire from service. In December 2016, Rev. Mason began working on developing the Hearts-Filled Care Givers Ministry at her home church, MMBC, under the leadership of Pastor Dr. Wallace S. Hartsfield II. She gave leadership to the Hearts-Filled Caregivers Ministry Conference which included workshops on bitterness, depression, grief, loss, and communication. While back at MMBC, she was now able to serve in a ministerial capacity. Even though she had already been ordained in Minnesota and served as the Pastor of Little Flock for over 20 years, she wanted to go through the official ordination process at Metropolitan. In November 2019, after completing the requirements for ordination, Rev. Mason was ordained at her home church, by Pastor Emeritus Wallace S. Hartsfield Sr. and Pastor Dr. Wallace S. Hartsfield II. While nobody can deny Rev. Mason’s love for God which was expressed through her many years of service, people who know her also know she had a passion for shopping that matched her dedication to ministry. Rev. Mason was known for her very stylish taste, and she was often found sporting her signature flip-up sunglasses which she called her Hollywoods. Although her walking got a little slower as she got older, her legs always moved a little faster when she was shopping. If you ever had the privilege to accompany Rev. Mason on one of her shopping expeditions, then you know a one-hour expedition could easily turn into a five to eight-hour adventure; only for her to summon you back on the next day for returns, exchanges, or to buy additional items. Rev. Mason leaves behind her lifelong partner, William Lawrence (Gib) Mason, whom she had been married to for over 66 years. They have two daughters, Johnnie Ann Mason Crawford and Lawrencina Mason Oramalu (Frank); five grandchildren – Lawrence William Crawford and Raeshel Crawford of Kansas City and her namesake Bobbie Ngozi Oramalu, Obinna Oramalu, and Franko Oramalu of Texas. She also leaves behind a God-given sister, Maxine Simmons; nieces, Edwina Fountain Jones (Calvin), Crystal Fountain, Staci Nicholson, Marianne Davis, Joanne Davis, Cheree Walker (Jonothan), and nephews Ira Fountain, Leonard Maurice Fountain, Sr. (Clotello), and Leslie Barton; sister-in-laws, Hazel Nicholson and Dorothy Davis and a host of cousins including first cousins in the Adams family (Curtis, Johnnie, Angela Monica, and Vera Lisa); Stuckey family (James and Brenda, her shopping partner); God-daughters (Richonia Freeman, Jahna Riley, and Stacey Pace); prayer partner, John Riley, a host of family and friends, and several great grandchildren. Rev. Mason was proceeded in death by her grandmother, Fannie Adams Brown; father, Eddie Lee Fountain, Sr.; mother, Johnie Lee Fountain; mother-in-law, Annie Mason; brother, Eddie Lee Fountain, Jr.; granddaughter, Kimberly Fredricka Goode; sister-in-law, Gloria Dickey; brother-in-laws - Orthel Mason, Sr. and Lloyd Mason Sr.; and son-in-law, Shelby Ray Crawford. She’s also proceeded in death by several dear uncles, aunts, and cousins. Rev. Mason’s legacy of a love for God, for people, for teaching, and for service, lives on in her family and the host of sons and daughters in the ministry, at Metropolitan and churches throughout Missouri and the country. Funeral Service will be held Saturday, September 24, 2022, 1:00pm at Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church. Interment Forest Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11:00am-1:00pm at the church. Service conducted by Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapel. Condolences may be shared on our website. 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Rev. Barbara Fountain Mason

February 6, 1939 - September 12, 2022