Barbara Gayle Kamer

Barbara Gayle Johns (Hammett, Kamer) best known as Mom and Gigi was a beautiful, loving, caring, mother, grandmother, wife, sister, and friend. She left this world suddenly on December 27^th, 2021, at the age of 71.

She was born on September 03, 1950, to Shelt and Ethel Johns, in Orange Park, Florida. She grew up in Middleburg, Florida.  Some of her fondest memories were playing and spending time with her sisters and her life-long best friend, Shirley. Of course, learning to cook and sew from her momma was a very special part of her growing-up memories. She had longed to go be with her precious momma for more years than we can remember. Although she will be desperately missed here, we know and have peace that she is finally, truly, Home.

She was a sacrificial and caring woman. She was more forgiving and merciful than many knew. She greatly desired to know and serve God, she went on several mission trips to Mexico, gave freely to missionaries, and was truly a prayer warrior. Upon her death many, many journals were discovered filled with her earnest talks between her and the Lord about family and friends she loved and was burdened for.

One of Barbara’s greatest treasures was spending time with and caring for her sweet momma in her momma’s final years. She also loved visiting, shopping, and trying to help her best friends and family as often as she could, especially Shirley and her Aunt Joy in these last seasons of her life.

And beyond going to visit family and friends, she had a great love and desire to travel. There was nothing travel-wise she didn’t enjoy; a simple bus ride, a cross country road trip, a snow filled trip to a cabin in the mountains, or a cruise ship to the islands. She was always a free spirit, on the search for that next adventure.

Many who knew her would agree, she had a wicked sense of humor at times; watching her get tickled over something was a true delight. She was also very caring and empathetic; your pain was her pain. She would do the best she could, in her own way, to share your sorrow or try to ease your pain.

Her love notes were endless, though sometimes you might be afraid to know just what her thoughts on a matter might be (if ya’ know, ya’ know). Her gifts too were plentiful. There wasn’t a thrift store she could get out of in under an hour with a bit of ‘this or that’ for someone or everyone. You may not know you needed it, but she did.

Her children were her greatest loves and her biggest source of pride. And just when you thought she couldn’t love any bigger, along came her Grands and Great-Grands. She may have thought she left this world without one final love story, but her grandchildren would tell you different.

The list of what she loved doing with her Grandbabies would fill a small book; from cooking eggs-n-grits, tater’ sandwiches, macaroni and tomatoes with a big ‘dollop’ of mayo for them, to watching her Granddaughters dance, movies with her Grandson, taking them on adventures (like their first train ride, trying to teach them to sew, to puzzles, and climbing sand piles), and just being silly with them and making sure they each knew they were special to her; they were her treasures.

The simplest pleasures in life brought her happiness; walks in nature or the woods near black creek, getting a nice tan at the beach, country and gospel music, church, camping, going out to eat with James, sewing, thrifting, shopping, gardening, talking to complete strangers, seeing a good-lookin’ man, the Military (especially her nephew Ricky), the Police (especially her Detective son-in-love, Ray).

Beyond anything else our mom would want you to know would be to share about her desire to know and love God. She would want you to have the same Hope she had, and that Hope was her faith in her God. If she could speak to you today, she would tell you to please put your faith in Jesus. And to chase after what He has for you here on this earth. To extend forgiveness and mend fences, to be good to those you can, and to trust that the Father has better and more for you than this world offers. Even if you still struggle like she certainly did, having faith in something beyond this world, in a God who loves you and cares about the very hairs on your head and every tear that you’ve cried, will be your anchor!!!

Barbara made it to Heaven behind some of her favorite people, her brothers; Olin “Duger”, Howard “Bee”, David, Roger, and Casey Johns, her momma, Ethel, and many more.  She leaves the rest of us longing for just a bit more time with her here. She will be waiting for her sisters, Laura Nail (Ricky), Jennifer Johns, and Karen (Buddy), alongside her brothers, Gordon (Sue), Lynn and Marcus Johns, her Great Aunt Joy, her best friend Shirley, her Beloved son James “Jamie” (Kelly) Hammett, Most-Favorite daughter Kimberly “Kim” (Raymond), and the Best Grandbabies ever; Benjamin (Kellen) Hammett, Kaitlyn (Chas) Riggleman, Levi, Isabella, Ava, Elizabeth, and last but not least Micah, along with her great-grands; Charley, Wyatt, and Luca.

In lieu of a service, to honor our mom, go get out in nature, go to the beach, spend an afternoon thrift-shopping, take a trip, go serve with your favorite ministry, or donate to her favorite missionary, Joseph with Agape Uganda. http://www.agapeuganda.org