Barbara J. Caleb

Barbara Jean Caleb, affectionately known as BJ, age 86, of Richmond, Virginia, peacefully entered eternal rest on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. She was the beloved daughter of Rosa Lee Rowe Vereen. Barbara was hardworking, resilient, and deeply family oriented, and most of all, she truly enjoyed life. She was known as the host of hosts, the family member who brought everyone together.

Barbara was born on March 14, 1940, in Orangeburg, South Carolina. In her early life, she migrated to Richmond, where she encountered challenges that helped shape her strength, resilience, and unwavering faith. With only an eighth-grade education, she became an avid reader and an enthusiastic crossword puzzle enthusiast.

She later secured employment with Philip Morris USA, where she worked for over 30 years until her retirement in 1993. Through determination and sacrifice, she single-handedly ensured that her children and later her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were placed in a better position in life. Her greatest accomplishment was leaving behind a legacy of professionals, entrepreneurs, educators, chefs, scientists, engineers, and spiritual leaders.

Barbara was feisty and spoke her mind freely, yet she always carried herself with dignity.

She enjoyed games of chance and the thrill of a good win. In her later years, she became a devoted member of Shepherd’s Heart Evangelistic Ministries, where she worshipped and served faithfully for over 20 years. As part of the evangelistic outreach, she often cooked for the entire community. She was the Apostolic Mother of Dominion 3, a faithful giver, a devoted intercessor, and a prayer warrior for her loved ones.

Barbara was preceded in death by her mother Rosa Lee Rowe Vereen, her siblings Dorothy Mae Rowe, Robert Rowe, Hattie Mae Rowe, Fannie Wheless, O’Harold Staton, and Howard Miller, and the father of her children Morris Hosea Caleb, Sr. She leaves to cherish her memory and continue her legacy, her sisters Annie Gaines, Catherine Randolph, and Ethel “China” Connor; brothers Richard Rowe and James Rowe; four children Patricia Mayfield (Marvin), Morris Caleb, Jr. (Cheryl), Sharon Jones, and Bruce Caleb; seven grandchildren, Regina Rudolph, Orenthal Tucker (Tanea), Shatara Weaver, Morris Peterson, Jumar Peterson (DaNae), Jashon Jones (Angela), and Latoya Mayfield; 19 great-grandchildren Kayla, Camille, Ayinde’, Sarah, Amirah, Emily, Caleb, Kayleigh, Korynn, Jayla, Bre’Shon, Jashon (Tink), Ja’Niyah, Jayce, Jayoan, Tyshon, Brielle, Karsen, and Jhett; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Her life was marked by strength, generosity, faith, and love, qualities that will continue to
live on through the many lives she touched.