Ms. Fannie J. Barbour

November 16, 1924 - April 6, 2020

***NOTE: MOTHER BARBOUR'S GRAVESIDE COMMITTALL WAS HELD ON APRIL 9, 2020. A CELEBRATION OF LIFE TBD ****FULL OBITUARY LISTED BELOW*** Fannie Jane Hobbs was born on November 16, 1924 in Fannin, Mississippi the twelfth and last surviving child of fourteen children born to Hardy Hobbs and Lillie King Hobbs. On the evening of April 6, 2020, Mother Fannie J. Barbour transitioned to eternal life. She was preceded in death by her parents, Hardy Hobbs Sr. and Lillie Hobbs, her thirteen siblings: Avie Hobbs, Daisy Mitchell, Annie Bell Weathers, Louise Scott, Ella Mae Miller, Lou Della Hobbs, Hardy Hobbs Jr., Louis Hobbs, Oscar Hobbs, Bud Hobbs, Sidney Hobbs, Emma Ruth McCoy and Queen Esther Fountain. Fannie Jane Hobbs, also known by family and friends as “Doll” graduated from High School in Louisville, Mississippi. She then became part of the “Great Migration” North. She married Malvin Fountain on April 26, 1947. They settled in Kalamazoo, Michigan where their only child Melvin Jerome Fountain was born. The marriage dissolved and Fannie Fountain became a single mother with a small boy. She worked cleaning doctors’ offices and selling Avon to make ends meet. In the mid-1950’s she started working at Gilmore Brothers Tea Room as the Soda Fountain Girl and she eventually became Head Cook and Supervisor. Cooking was Fannie’s passion. She enjoyed cooking and feeding people. If you came over to visit her you better be ready to eat because she was going to feed you! Fannie loved “fellowshipping” around a meal. Fannie Fountain bought a house in the early 50’s. Many people questioned why she wanted such a big house for her and a little boy. She remodeled the upstairs to an efficiency apartment and two bedrooms. Fannie Fountain rented the efficiency apartment to help pay her mortgage. Later, Fannie became quite the entrepreneur, acquiring, remodeling and renting real estate. Her residential remodeling reputation allowed her to contract and sub-contract other work. Her grandchildren earned money for “school clothes” while learning basic painting and plastering skills. May Northside residents got their first chance or improved their residential remodeling skills working for Ms. Barbour. Ms. Fannie Barbour married a second time. Both of her husband preceded her in death. Mother Fannie Barbour accepted Christ at a very, early age. She was a member of several churches before finding her true church hoe at Galilee Baptist Church where Dr. Michael T. Scott is pastor. Mother Barbour faithfully attended Galilee and was active in the Mother’s Board and Mission Board until failing health limited her mobility. Mother Barbour leaves to cherish her memory, son, Melvin J. (Helen) Fountain of Grand Rapids; grandchildren, Krishna (Tanjalyn) Fountain, Idris Fountain, Omar Fountain, Ainka Fountain, Kurt Morris and Sereagen Morris; 13 grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; and a special friend, Pirley Bracken. Also, several nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great nieces and a host of family and friends ___________________________________________________ ***IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, Please send memorial gifts to: Fannie Barbour P.O. Box 19413 Kalamazoo, Michigan 49019