Obituary for Barbara Lacen keller
BARBARA KELLER OBITUARY
Barbara Lacen Keller, age 76, entered into eternal rest on Monday, January 16, 2023 at her residence surrounded by her daughters and granddaughter. She was born Barbara Jean Rankins to the late Julius Rankins and Augustine Germaine Lewis in New Orleans, LA where she remained a lifelong resident. Barbara was a retiree of the City of New Orleans. In addition to her parents, She is also preceded in death by her only son, Gene Bentley. Survivors include her daughters, Dawn Bentley-Johnson (Glenn, Sr.), Kelly Bentley Dixon and Cantina Rankins; grandchildren, Zihara Rankins, Michael Brooks, Jr., Jelani Robinson and Alicia Green; great-grandchildren; devoted companion, Melvin Frank, Jr., as well as other relatives, Godchildren, "sons" and friends. Barbara was a community activist and a New Orleans Culture Bearer who was born in the historic Treme area of the city. She attended Joseph Craig Elementary School, Andrew J. Bell Junior High School and Joseph S. Clark Senior High School. She was also a "Little Queen" with the Cheyenne Indian tribe in the 1950s and was a member of several Social Aid & Pleasure clubs throughout her life. Barbara began her activism in the early 1970s in the 7th Ward as a concerned parent at Marie C. Couvent, her children's elementary school. From that time, she became ingrained in community causes and politics. It was her life's mission to advocate on behalf of the disenfranchised in the community. Relatives and friends; Pastor, Officers and members of Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel and Israelite Baptist Churches, New Home Ministries; Staff and Employees of the State of Louisiana Dept. of Children and Family Services; City of New Orleans Office of Community Development; Orleans Parish Criminal District Court (CIS); Lowe's Store #1085; Associated Terminals; American Sugar Refinery; Members of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Epsilon Phi Sigma Alumnae Chapter; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., New Orleans Alumnae Chapter; The Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale; The Jazz and Heritage Foundation; WWOZ; The Preservation Resource Center; The Dryades YMCA, and all other organizations that the family is affiliated with are invited to attend a special memorial service at Mardi Gras World, 1380 Port of New Orleans Place, New Orleans, LA 70130 on Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 7:30 pm. Visitation will begin at 6:30 pm. A Celebration service honoring the life and legacy of the late Barbara Lacen Keller will be held at New Home Family Worship Center, 1616 Robert C. Blakes, Sr. Drive, New Orleans, LA 70130 on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 10 am, Elder Kelly Bentley Dixon, Officiating. Interment Mount Olivet Cemetery, 4000 Norman Mayer Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70122. Visitation 8 am in the church. Traditional Jazz procession. Due to Covid variants, face masks and social distancing strongly encouraged. Please sign online guest book at www.charbonnetfuneralhome.com. Charbonnet Labat Glapion, Directors (504) 581-4411.
Published by The Times-Picayune on Jan. 25, 2023.
Barbara Lacen Keller, age 76, entered into eternal rest on Monday, January 16, 2023 at her residence surrounded by her daughters and granddaughter. She was born Barbara Jean Rankins to the late Julius Rankins and Augustine Germaine Lewis in New Orleans, LA where she remained a lifelong resident. Barbara was a retiree of the City of New Orleans. In addition to her parents, She is also preceded in death by her only son, Gene Bentley. Survivors include her daughters, Dawn Bentley-Johnson (Glenn, Sr.), Kelly Bentley Dixon and Cantina Rankins; grandchildren, Zihara Rankins, Michael Brooks, Jr., Jelani Robinson and Alicia Green; great-grandchildren; devoted companion, Melvin Frank, Jr., as well as other relatives, Godchildren, "sons" and friends. Barbara was a community activist and a New Orleans Culture Bearer who was born in the historic Treme area of the city. She attended Joseph Craig Elementary School, Andrew J. Bell Junior High School and Joseph S. Clark Senior High School. She was also a "Little Queen" with the Cheyenne Indian tribe in the 1950s and was a member of several Social Aid & Pleasure clubs throughout her life. Barbara began her activism in the early 1970s in the 7th Ward as a concerned parent at Marie C. Couvent, her children's elementary school. From that time, she became ingrained in community causes and politics. It was her life's mission to advocate on behalf of the disenfranchised in the community. Relatives and friends; Pastor, Officers and members of Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel and Israelite Baptist Churches, New Home Ministries; Staff and Employees of the State of Louisiana Dept. of Children and Family Services; City of New Orleans Office of Community Development; Orleans Parish Criminal District Court (CIS); Lowe's Store #1085; Associated Terminals; American Sugar Refinery; Members of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Epsilon Phi Sigma Alumnae Chapter; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., New Orleans Alumnae Chapter; The Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale; The Jazz and Heritage Foundation; WWOZ; The Preservation Resource Center; The Dryades YMCA, and all other organizations that the family is affiliated with are invited to attend a special memorial service at Mardi Gras World, 1380 Port of New Orleans Place, New Orleans, LA 70130 on Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 7:30 pm. Visitation will begin at 6:30 pm. A Celebration service honoring the life and legacy of the late Barbara Lacen Keller will be held at New Home Family Worship Center, 1616 Robert C. Blakes, Sr. Drive, New Orleans, LA 70130 on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 10 am, Elder Kelly Bentley Dixon, Officiating. Interment Mount Olivet Cemetery, 4000 Norman Mayer Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70122. Visitation 8 am in the church. Traditional Jazz procession. Due to Covid variants, face masks and social distancing strongly encouraged. Please sign online guest book at www.charbonnetfuneralhome.com. Charbonnet Labat Glapion, Directors (504) 581-4411.
Published by The Times-Picayune on Jan. 25, 2023.