On September 10, 2022 at the age of 93 years old, Barbara Brooks Hammock was called home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Barbara was surrounded by her family at the time of her passing in her home in Ruston, LA.

A visitation for Mrs. Hammock will be Saturday September, 17 from 12:30 – 2:00 PM at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Ruston followed by her funeral service at 2:00 PM also at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. Officiating the service will be Dr. Chris Craig and Rev. Clayton Owen of First Baptist Church of Ruston and son-in-law Rob Martin. Burial will follow at Kilpatrick Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Ruston under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.

On January 23, 1929 Barbara Ann was born to Leonard Key Brooks and Lillian Edwards Brooks in Ruston, LA.  She graduated from Ruston High School in 1946 and from Louisiana Tech University with a degree in journalism in 1950, where she was a proud member of Kappa Delta sorority. Barbara began working at the family business, Brooks Insurance Agency while still in college and continued there until her marriage to John Donald "Don" Hammock in 1953.  Don and Barbara lived for a short stint in Lake Charles, LA then returned to Ruston where they made their home and raised their family for 57 years together until Don's death in 2010.  Don and Barbara raised 5 children: twins Jay and Kay, Gayle, Donna and David.

Barbara continued working at Brooks Insurance Agency after returning to Ruston. Don became an agent for Brooks Insurance in 1961. The agency later became known as Brooks-Hammock Insurance Agency. Don and Barbara worked side by side for over 40 years until Don's retirement.  She continued to work at the agency with her son Jay and daughter Donna until she was 84 years old when the agency was sold in 2013 after 86 years of service to the Ruston community.

Barbara was a life long member of First Baptist Church of Ruston. Through the years, she served as a Sunday school teacher, on several committees, and most recently as a member of the Joy Sunday school class.  Barbara loved her community and served as a member and president of the Junior Guild, the Ruston Arts Council, and as Co-chairman on the Lincoln Parish Bicentennial Committee.

Barbara's love for Jesus and her family were the most important things to her. She made sure that birthdays and significant events were made special to her children, grandchildren, and loved ones.  Barbara served as a Girl Scout and Boy Scout leader.  Family time was often spent playing card games, dominos, and relaxing and boating at the family camp on Lake Claiborne.  As an 80+ year old parent to her adult children, she would, unselfishly, volunteer to take part of their early morning newspaper route. Cruising the streets of Ruston, slinging papers from her blue Cadillac. Barbara was known for her unique sense of humor and gift of poetry. She enjoyed a good joke, telling funny stories and writing poems to her loved ones on birthdays and special occasions. Barbara was a lover of animals. She was a mother to countless cats and dogs through her years. Family vacations were a priority for her and Don. Branson, MO was a favorite destination of hers in her later years.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Leonard Brooks Jr. and Jack Brooks, her husband J. Donald Hammock, her son Jay Hammock, and her grandson Taylor Young. She is survived by her sister Joy Brooks Campbell of Ruston; sister-in-law Louise Lawrence of Center, TX; daughter Kay Hammock Baumgardner and her husband Marty of El Dorado AR; daughter Gayle Hammock Martin and her husband Rob of Halls, TN; daughter Donna Hammock Young and her husband Cary of Ruston, and son, David Hammock and his wife Michelle of Plano, TX.  Barbara's surviving grandchildren are Caleb Baumgardner, Nathan, Elliott and Lauren Martin, Michael and Lorna Dufour, Logan Young, Zachary, Lindsay and Braeden Paul, Kevin Sherrard, Katie Sandifer and Matthew Loyd. Her great grandchildren are Trevor and Trent Dufour, Lucian Dufour, Ani Kingston, Jewel and Adelaide Martin, Evelyn Sherrard, and Ryan and Sean Sandifer.

Serving as pallbearers for Mrs. Hammock will be her grandsons: Zachary, Michael, Caleb, Elliott, Logan, and Kevin. Honorary Pallbearers are Nathan, Braeden, Matthew, Trevor and Trent.