Barbara Jane (Mullins) Mashburn

Barbara Jane (Mullins) Mashburn, 75 of Fayetteville, Ark., passed away Saturday, January 4, 2020. She was born April 2, 1944 in Fayetteville, Ark., the youngest child of Arthur and Dorotha (Brown) Mullins. She graduated from Springdale High School and attended the University of Arkansas. For 70 plus years, she sang! She loved and sang all kinds of music - sacred, popular, country, but jazz and blues music were her favorite and the hallmark of her professional singing career. She sang across this country and internationally, in every kind of venue. Whether she was singing for everyday people or singing for Presidents, she did so with the same authenticity and gusto. Her voice was no like no other. In her later years, she gave vocal music scholarships to rising college students, produced concerts throughout Northwest Arkansas to showcase their talents, and coached them in the art of performing. There was simply no one else quite like her. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dr. James Dean "Doc" Mashburn, and sister, Ramona Taylor. She is survived by her daughter Marti Rickel and son-in-law Greg Rickel of Seattle, Wash., one grandson, Austin Rickel of New Orleans, La., sisters Gwen Futrell of Pocahontas, Ark., Marcia McGowen-Thurman, of Springdale, Ark., and cousin MaryBeth Marschewski of Little Rock, Ark. She is survived by many more cousins, nieces and nephews, the children and grandchildren of Doc Mashburn, and many, many friends. A funeral service will be held at 2p.m., on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, Ark. The officiant is The Rev. Suzanne Stoner and the preacher is The Right Rev. Greg Rickel. A reception will follow the service in the church Parish Hall. A private entombment service will be held at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to support music and singers may be made to the Barbara Mashburn Memorial Fund at the Arkansas Community Foundation. To sign the online guest book please visit www.nelsonberna.com.