Barbara Wallace Green

Barbara Sue Green was born on January 20, 1942, at her family’s dairy farm, just south of Greenville, Texas. Her parents were Eston and Stella Wallace. Barbara was the youngest of three girls. Her sisters, Jaynie and Anna, were her truest friends and constant companions. Barbara was a curious child. She spent her days on the farm taking things apart to see how they worked. She often found herself on the receiving end of a gentle lecture because she couldn’t put all of those things back together. This earned her the name of “Fiddlesticks”.

Barbara grew into a beautiful young woman. She left school and became a bride on July 19, 1958, at the tender age of 16. Make no mistake, Barbara was intelligent and capable. She could have been anything she wanted to be, and Lowell Green’s wife was everything she wanted to be. The two of them were quite a couple. Barbara was always proud to be a member of the Green family. She loved Macon and Gladys Green, and they loved her like one of their own. Through her marriage to Lowell, Barbara gained three sisters – Wanda, Linda, and Martha. Their friendship and support always meant so much to her.

In a few short years, Barbara embraced a new name…“Mama”. She was blessed with five daughters…Terri (1961), Lisa (1962), Brenda (1965), Jamey (1966), and Kim (1977). Barbara was a devoted mother. Her young family moved around a lot and, at times, struggled to make ends meet. Barbara’s world revolved around her girls, and she was determined to raise strong women. She required a lot of them, and they worked hard to live up to her expectations. They still do. But she loved them unconditionally, and they never doubted it. They were always welcome at home.

In October of 1981, Barbara’s life changed forever when Michael Wood was born. This chapter of her life marked her transition to “Maw”. Although not biologically, Maw was undeniably Michael’s mom. She had been parenting children for two decades by the time he was born. But he needed her, and she did not hesitate. Caring and providing for Michael became her life’s work, her labor of love. In Michael’s early years, she worked with him nonstop until he could walk and talk. As a teenager, she fought for him to experience the life that came so easily to others. And, as they aged together, they became companions. Both could be a bit surly. Both were absolutely set in their ways. Both relied on the other to make it through each day. Maw would never recover from the heartbreak of losing Michael in 2023. And Michael undoubtedly welcomed Maw to heaven with a giant hug as he asked, “Maw…where you been. Why you late?”

Barbara passed away peacefully on November 4, 2025. Her version of heaven may resemble a dairy farm or a campsite in Oklahoma. Michael is with her, introducing her to his friends, John Ritter and Andy Griffith. She will forever be missed by those that she left behind. Barbara is survived by her daughters: Terri Stewart and husband, Marty; Lisa Sawyer; Glen Sawyer and wife, Kim; Brenda Holcomb and husband, Dennis; Jamey Hall and husband, Jon; Kim Newland and husband, Mike. Her legacy lives on through the families of her grandchildren: Lorna Bradford, Brian Stewart, Justin Hall, James Sawyer, Josh Hall, Brandie Sawyer, Ricky Sawyer, Cody Sawyer, Jacee Hall, Brody Newland, and Mackenzie Newland.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the National Down Syndrome Society. Donate.