EASTLAND- Barbara Ann McCollum, 87, beloved Mother and friend, was called to her eternal resting place on July 6, 2023. She entered this world on March 16, 1936, in Chillicothe, Texas, born to Delon Ray and Cleo Philley.
Barbara was a graduate of Wilson High School in Wilson, Oklahoma. She went on to attend Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton, Texas. While her father was pastor at First Baptist Church in Rising Star, Texas she met the love of her life, Joe Frank McCollum from Okra, Texas. Barbara and Joe Frank married on May 30,1954 and moved to Lubbock, Texas where they grew cotton and grew kids. Barbara was a strong loving wife to her husband and a strong Christian mother for her three children. After their children were old enough to attend school, she had various jobs as a secretary at Shallowater High School, First Baptist Church in Shallowater, Texas and at Buckner Baptist Children’s Home in Lubbock, Texas. In 1980 they moved to Okra, Texas where they built their house on the family farm and ranch land. In 1984 they received a Certificate of Honor from the Texas Department of Agriculture for 100 years of agriculture by the same family of the Jo-Bar Farm & Ranch. They were very honored and proud of this award. Barbara continued to work as a secretary and ended her career as the financial secretary at First Baptist Church in Eastland, Texas. In her later years she became a long-time resident at The Woodlands Assisted Living and leaves behind many friends and a wonderful staff.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Joe Frank McCollum; her parents, Delon Ray Philley and Cleo Watson; her sister Martha Lou Philley; her son, Edgar (Eddie) Ray McCollum; and brother-in-law Willie Brooks.
