Today, we celebrate the life of Barbara Jean Sturdivant-James, the fourth youngest child of the late Eddie Ellis Sturdivant and Cicero Sturdivant. On Thursday, February 8, 2024, Providence granted Mrs. Barbara Sturdivant-James what life could no longer give – health and wholeness. Her body could no longer serve her, and in faith, we affirm that God gave her eternal life. Barbara Sturdivant-James was born on April 7, 1939, in Chelford, Arkansas. Her rearing in a loving Christian family gave her the affirmation she needed to aspire to.

Barbara Sturdivant-James accepted Jesus Christ into her heart at an early age and was a faithful member of Friendship Baptist Church before moving to Texas. She was educated in the Lansing, MI., school system and graduated from J.W. Sexton in 1958. Barbara was industrious and hardworking in high school. She always found jobs and worked hard to earn money to buy clothes. She was pretty, always well-coifed and very well-dressed. Barbara was an excellent typist and stenographer. She went to work for the State of Michigan in 1961 and retired from the State in 2002. In between, she worked for county and federal governments and Fisher Body.

Barbara was an avid bowler, gardener, activist, and published poet. She had composed more than seventy poems and was often sought out to compose poems for local events, milestones, and occasions. Barbara was also a local urban anthropologist—with the collaboration of son-in-law Michael Fields, she documented the history of the 1950s' Westside of Lansing in a videotape called " These Are the Things That Last ," which she dedicated to her lifelong friend, Clemetine Johnson-Davis.

Barbara married the love of her life, the late Eddie James, Jr., in 1963. From their union, they had two children: son Eddie James, III (deceased) and daughter Bridget James-Fields. Barbara had always taught her children to put God first and the importance of walking by faith and not by sight. She was the pillar of strength, perseverance, and grace; her warm and beautiful smile easily drew people closer to her.

Barbara Sturdivant-James is proceeded in death by: her late husband, Eddie James, Jr.; son, Eddie James, III; parents, Eddie and Cicero  Sturdivant; son-in-law, Michael Darnell Fields; siblings, Latha Holmes, Calvin E. Sturdivant, Jeanette Lofton, Dorothy Templeton, Leslie 'L.C.' Sturdivant, and Cleophus Sturdivant.

Barbara will be greatly missed. She is survived by: her loving and caring daughter, Bridget James-Fields of Cedar Park, TX; five grandchildren, Dominque Garrett of Kalamazoo, MI, Eddie James, IV & Joshua Cicero James of Sault Saint Marie, MI; Michael R. Fields and Christopher Fields of Cedar Park, TX; eight great grandchildren (Joniya, Jordyn, Jaylen, Benjamin, Jordan, Isaiah, Aaliyah, and Avery); loving siblings, Irene Cutliff (Heffner) of Oklahoma City, OK; Bernice Sturdivant of Flint, MI; Marie Campbell-Sturdivant of Lansing, MI; and Vernetta Sturdivant-Edmond of Lansing, MI; daughter-in-law, Dawn James of Sault Saint Marie, MI; extended family, Berthenia Jones, Brittnay (Tyrone) Collins, Zerria Hursey, Betty Jean Hull, Berthenia Fields, Luella Fields, Rose (Carl) Johnson, Richard Fields, Albert Fields, Robert Fields; Eddie Lee (Betty) Fields, Johnny Fields, Charles Fields, and Daryl Fields; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces & nephews, cousins, and special friends.

An obituary of such a great woman of Barbara Sturdivant-James can only reflect a faint glow in the writing thereof, but all who knew her will forever see its light. Such a light cannot be darkened. It will forever glow.

Arrangements for Ms. Sturdivant-James are as follows: