La Puente, CA — LoLeta, affectionately known as Lo, was born on July 19, 1934 to the late Lanie and Jessie Mae Lee in Terrel, Texas. She was the sixth of ten children to this union.
LoLeta and family attended New Hope Baptist Church where she was baptized and became an active church member. She and her best friend, Beverly Price of 80 years, attended four years of high school at Southwestern Christian College. After graduating from high school LoLeta attended Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical University (Prairie View A & M) in Hempstead, Texas, LoLeta graduated in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Education. She also minored in French and Physical Education.
After graduating from College LoLeta and her family relocated to Los Angeles, California. California is called the “Golden State” and Lo absolutely struck gold for she met and married the love of her life, Henry Louis “Joe” Barber. To this union were born three adorable children, Vicki, Deborah and Henry (“Pops”)
LoLeta was hired by the Ontario-Montclair School District as an elementary school teacher in 1963. She thoroughly enjoyed her first assignment at San Antonio Elementary school where she taught for 7 wonderful years. She later transferred to Elderberry School in 1970.
In 1973, she was granted a sabbatical to enter the Graduate School Program at La Verne College. During this time, LoLeta worked in the Pomona Unified School District as a substitute teacher. In 1974, Lo transferred to Moreno Elementary School where she remained until she retired in 1990. Lo taught every grade level from kindergarten to sixth. LooLeta’s notable achievements at Moreno included. Moreno Elementary School’s Student of the Month; Started the Student Store; Enrolled in controversial Spanish classes to prepare herself for bilingual classes that she taught from 1975; She started the Voluntary Overnight Student Exchange Program. At the time her class was 75% Spanish speaking. Lo believed in full integration, therefore, the English-Speaking students stayed overnight with Hispanic families and vice versa. The students learned about different customs and values.
Loleta attended Madeline Hunter Workshops at UCLA studying Theory and Professional Development in 1987. She was enrolled in the Master’s Program at La Verne University as a Reading Specialist.
LoLeta received the Award for Excellence from the Ontario-Montclair School District’s Principal’s Associatin. The Parent Teacher’s Association (PTA) presented her with the Continuing Service Award in June 1988. In addition, LoLeta was named one of two San BernardinoCounty Tearchers of the year. LoLeta retired from your love of teaching in 1990.
LoLeta actively served her community. She was one of the founding members od the well-known Claremont
Area Chapter of the Links. LoLeta attended each meeting without any absence.
LoLeta was a faithful member of the St. Stephens Missionary Baptist Church and extremely active. Through her community work, and the Walk a Tons, LoLeta was able to raise monies for various areas of the church.
LoLeta was a God-fearing woman who loved the Lord with all her heart. Her love for Christ was measured by the amount of love she gave on a daily basis. People were touched by her infectious smile and her caring heart.
LoLeta loved spending time with her family. One of her favorite places to entertain was in the kitchen. She loved cook. She would often sit with friends at the table and exchange laughs all while enjoying one of her special meals.
LoLeta leaves to forever cherish her memory: Her loving husband Joe of 60 years, two daughters, one son, two great-grandchildren, one sister, one aunt, and a host of cousins, friends, and loved ones.
