Barbara Sue (Brown) Johnigan

Barbara Sue (Brown) Johnigan died on November 20, 2022, at her home in Joshua, Texas.  She was born October 24, 1939, in Coleman, Texas, the only child of Chloe Marie Sewell Brown and James Daniel Brown.

Barbara graduated from Talpa High School, class of 1957.  Following graduation, she attended Howard Payne University. 

After a whirlwind courtship in 1960, Barbara married the love of her life, Billy Glen Johnigan, and they celebrated 62 years of marriage this year.  They are members of the Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

An attentive mother and loving grandmother, Barbara is survived by her husband and three children, Gregory and wife Gwen of Fort Worth, Stephen and wife Donna of Waco, and Suzette Hanks and husband Charles of Joshua.  Her grandchildren are Peyton and wife Brook of Fort Worth, Zachary and wife Annie of Waco, Corinne Dillard and husband Andrew of Enchanted Oaks, Brycen and fiancé Natalie of Waco, and Philip and wife Rachel of Waco. Great-grandchildren include Kennedy Johnigan, Graham Johnigan, Nolan Dillard, with two more on the way!

Barbara has always loved to play the piano and from a young age, showed a remarkable musical talent.  She could play almost anything by ear and played for all the local variety shows in Talpa, for school and church events.

While living in Bryan, Texas in the 1970’s through the 90’s, she worked at Texas A&M University as secretary in the athletic offices at Cain Hall.  She had a special relationship with the athletes who passed through her door for almost ten years.

Barbara, or Mama Sue, as her grandchildren called her, enjoyed shopping, especially at Dillard’s department store, decorating her home for Christmas and entertaining her family at home.  Some of her family’s favorite dishes she prepared were her chicken fried steak, beans, and cornbread.  She will be missed by her friends and family.

Family and friends are invited to a time of visitation starting at 1:00 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 22, 2022, at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Charles Hanks and Rev. Zachary Johnigan officiating.  Interment will follow in the Talpa Cemetery.  Services are entrusted to Stevens Funeral Home, 400 W. Pecan Street, in Coleman.

Memorials are suggested in memory of Barbara to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org, to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org, or to the Community Healthcare of Texas at www.chot.org.

Remembrances and condolences can be written to the family via the virtual guestbook on Barbara’s tribute page at www.stevensfuneralhome.com.  Stevens Funeral Home is honored to serve the Johnigan family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Barbara Sue (Brown) Johnigan, please visit our floral store.