CHESAPEAKE, VA – Barbara Ann (Travier) Allen, 73, of Chesapeake, Va., answered the call of her Heavenly Father on January 8, 2025, with her family by her side, at Sentara Heart Hospital, in Norfolk, Va. She was born on September 7, 1951, in Troy, N.Y., where she was raised by her parents, the late Katie…
Continue ReadingCHESAPEAKE, VA – Barbara Ann (Travier) Allen, 73, of Chesapeake, Va., answered the call of her Heavenly Father on January 8, 2025, with her family by her side, at Sentara Heart Hospital, in Norfolk, Va. She was born on September 7, 1951, in Troy, N.Y., where she was raised by her parents, the late Katie Lee Watson and George Lloyd Watson, Sr. She was a member of Bethel Baptist Church, where she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior as an adolescent. Barbara also lived in Baltimore, Md., with her family for a short time, before returning to the Capital region of N.Y. After graduating from high school, Barbara attended Lesley College in Cambridge, Mass., for a short time.
In 1973, Barbara married Darrell Allen, and earned an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. She then worked for the New York Telephone Company as a Key Punch Operator in Menands, N.Y., until 1975, when they relocated to Pittsburgh, Pa. Barbara then worked as a temporary Key Punch Operator through Kelly Services until 1979, when the family settled in Utica, N.Y., and she began attending St. Paul’s Baptist Church. Barbara continued working as a Key Punch Operator for Tri-State Industrial Laundries until 1981. From 1982 to 1985, Barbara focused on raising her three children before returning to work in the Deli at Price Chopper Supermarket, where she was employed until 1988. At that time, Barbara became the Bookkeeper for Mid-Utica Neighborhood Preservation Corporation, which was affiliated with St. Paul’s, serving in this role until 1990, when she was promoted to Director of the organization’s Leisure Time Activity Center, a social model adult day care for seniors. Barbara continued her work there until 1999, when the program lost its financial support.
At St. Paul’s, Barbara taught Sunday School for children, led the Jr. Baptist Youth Fellowship, made costumes for the annual Easter pageants and served as the Church Clerk for many years. In 2000, Barbara began working as a Job Services Specialist for Oneida County Workforce Development, where she assisted citizens with criminal backgrounds in obtaining employment and/or training for job skills. During this time, she was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, which required surgical repair. While raising her family, Barbara volunteered her time and talents with different non-profit organizations in the Mohawk Valley community, including Christian Women’s Club, Habitat for Humanity, Your Neighbors and BridgeBuilders. Barbara and Darrell ended their marriage in 2002, but remained close until her passing.
Barbara continued working for Oneida County until relocating to Hampton, Va., with her daughters in 2004. During this time, she focused on her daughters and granddaughter, Kaia, and began attending Liberty Live Church (f.k.a. Liberty Baptist Church). In 2008, Barbara returned to work as an Environmental Services Associate in the Laundry at Sentara LifeCare (Nursing Home) in Portsmouth, Va. During this time, Barbara attended Tidewater Community College in Norfolk, Va., where she earned a Career Studies Certificate in Paralegal Studies in 2010.
After several years of working for Sentara, Barbara transferred to the Sentara Hospitals Credentialing Office, where she worked as a Credentials Analyst on the Reappointment Team. She retired in October 2019, after being diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF).
Barbara led multiple “Connect Groups” (Bible studies) simultaneously during her 20+ year membership at Liberty, and had also recently begun contributing her talent for sewing to Dresses for Missions. Although Barbara served in many roles throughout her life, the one she treasured most was being a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Barbara lived a life of love, joy, laughter and deep faith that made her seem much taller than her 4’11” frame. She was a fan of comedy, music and true crime television, who also enjoyed traveling, bowling, sewing, knitting, crocheting and card making, which was her life’s ministry. Barbara was known to make friends and acquaintances everywhere she went. Throughout each season of her life, Barbara mentored younger women and cultivated close relationships with an unspeakable number of people who will all miss her dearly. She also had an uncanny ability to organize refrigerators and pack suitcases into vehicles when it seemed there was no way the items could fit.
Those left to cherish Barbara’s memory are her children, Darien (Rhonda) Allen, of Clarksburg, Md., Daree Allen Nieves, of Suffolk, Va. and Carla Allen, of Chesapeake, Va.; former husband, Darrell Allen, of Suffolk, Va.; brother, Gregory (Doreen) Watson, of Schenectady, N.Y.; half-siblings, Cathy, Rose and Wilbert Travier, of Kalamazoo, Mich.; granddaughters, Tionna Taylor, of Pikesville, Md., Kaia Woodard, of Suffolk, Va. and Nyera Allen, of Clarksburg, Md.; nieces, Jalissa (Zachery) and Neyonna Watson, of Schenectady, N.Y.; nephew, Gregory Lamar Watson, of Schenectady, N.Y.; great-grandson, Jayce Mack, of Pikesville, Md.; great-niece, Lillian Suflita, of Schenectady, N.Y.; and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins. Barbara will also be deeply missed by her canine grandsons, Massak and Maximillius Corgius Droolius Cesar III (“Max”); and her canine granddaughter, Jewelz. Barbara was predeceased by her biological father, Willie Lee Travier, Sr.; brothers, Roosevelt Harp, George Lloyd Watson, Jr., Willie Lee Travier, Jr.; a multitude of aunts, uncles, cousins; and her precious granddaughter, Ryanne Nicole Allen.
The Allen family wishes to extend their deep appreciation to the Emergency Medical Services Division of the Chesapeake Fire Department; Dr. Wayne Old; Dr. Amin Yehya; Dr. Christopher Sciortino; Dr. Jon Grammes; Dr. Erich Kiehl; Dr. Anthony Quaranta; Dr. Dwayne Morris; Dr. Rishik Vashisht; Dr. Livia Negrea Dusa; Dr. Ian Woollett; and the nursing staff of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit and Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit at Sentara Heart Hospital, especially Bella, Giusella and Kristan, for their kindness and the excellent medical care provided to Barbara during her illness and final hospitalization.
A memorial service to celebrate Barbara’s life will be held on Sunday, February 2, 2025, from 5-8 p.m., at Liberty Live Church, 1021 Big Bethel Rd., Hampton, Va. 23666. The service will also be livestreamed at LibertyLive.church/Livestream
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Barbara’s memory to Liberty Live Church, Samaritan’s Purse or The Voice of the Martyrs. Cremation Society of Virginia, Chesapeake Office, is handling Barbara’s final arrangements in accordance with her wishes.

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