Barbara L. Toney

Proverbs 31: 10-31 (KJV) - Who Can Find a Virtuous Woman?

“…Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom: and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised…”

Those of us who knew her as Barbie, Barbara, Ma, Mom, Mum, Mummy, Mumacita, Mama Toney, Mother Toney, Aunt Barbie, Aunt Barbara, Mrs. Toney, Mrs. T., Grandma or Grandma-ma, and spent time in her presence, can wholeheartedly proclaim “yes” we did find a Virtuous Woman in her, Thank you Jesus!

Barbara L. Boyd Toney was born in Providence, Rhode Island on May 4th, 1929, to the late Warren W. Boyd Sr. and Mary L. Boyd. She is the 4th Great Granddaughter of Winsor Fry, Revolutionary War Patriot and 8th Great Granddaughter of Captain James Church of the Pocasset Tribe and probably the son/grandson of Sachem Massasoit of the Historical Pokonokett Nation. Barbara was the sixth child in a blended family of eleven children. She was extremely proud of her African Native American Heritage and did extensive research on her ancestral lineage using primary and secondary resources to double check whatever she documented. She was the co-historian of our family along with her sister Bette.

She was the sister of the late Thelma E. Moore, Warren W., Harold E. Sr., and Ernest B. Boyd, Walter H. Scott Jr. and Gertrude Scott Simmons as well as four surviving sisters: Gladys Johnson of Rosewell, GA, Cora Jamieson of Shrewsbury MA, Beverly Spring of Worcester MA, Bette Koger of Baltimore MD and brother-in-law Bennie Thornton of Worcester MA.

Barbara was the devoted wife of Alfred J. Toney Sr. for over 52 years. Upon his death in 2001, with strength and determination from the Lord, she continued to be the powerhouse Matriarch that she had always been, encouraging, motivating and most importantly of all, loving her huge extended family and village members any way she could. She also began writing prolifically, poems, short stories and more. She later met her writing coach John Ralston Haynes who helped her compile and edit her book on her dad, Warren W. Wilson, Sr. along with composing addresses, presentations, letters, excerpts and so much more.

She was the loving mother of the late Harold E. Boyd, Jr., Alfred J. Jr. and Michael L. Toney and surrogate mother of the late Patricia Potter and Maisha Bishop. She leaves to mourn her three daughters Bette J., Nora L., Alicia R. Toney and husband Rodney L.

Bender, surrogate sons and daughters; Reverend Ronel Gunn, Joseluis Correia, Lawrence Byrd, Pamela Toney and Sharon Byrd and her Godchildren

Dr. George Smith, Marcia Boyd and Raymond Nobles; Grandchildren and surrogate grands; predeceased Sonya and Yero; surviving Wayne, Shona, Harold E. III, Chanda, Cynthia, Gwen, Trenice, Gus, Wade, Hussein, Oronde, Reuel, Joshua T., Ellaina, Rebecca and Joshua B, and numerous Great and 2nd Great Grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and a host of loved ones and friends.

She attended John Street Baptist Church in Worcester, MA during her youth. She attended Sunday School and served as the secretary as well as participated on the debate team, which afforded her the opportunity to travel to West Medford, Boston, Malden and other suburban towns of Boston with her best friend, Doreen Storm Smith. She often talked about the fun and good times they had together, just being able to get out of their hometown.

When she met Alfred Sr. in Business School in New Orleans, LA they dated and married within a year or two. Both had the same values i.e., a strong faith in the Lord and a passion to serve Him faithfully, while building a beautiful family together. So, when they got to Boston, they looked for a church home to raise their family, and they eventually found Twelfth Baptist Church (TBC). Then Barbara met Barbara L. Wright (Rev. Dr. Martin L. King Jr.’s Godmother) who became her mentor and cherished friend. She encouraged Barbara to take classes, so that she could teach Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and work in the nursery. She loved learning about teaching and learning in the Lord and thrived in TBC’s supportive environment.

She met lifelong colleagues/friends, Mrs. Annie Hyman, Mrs. Bernice Nobles, Mrs. Agnes Nobles, Mrs. Burrell, and Mrs. Leoner Woodson and so many others as they forged forward in the Sunday School Ministry and all other ministries under the umbrella of Christian Education as well as the Women’s Ministry. Rightly so, she brought her children along with her to everything/ministry at TBC that she became involved in, and she modeled how to live a Christian life serving Christ. She also brought along whoever else lived in her home, visited with her family and or were just friends. Later, after her husband retired he became active in the Transportation Ministry and the Deacon Board, and the rest is history, how their commitment to the Lord and TBC had rippling effects on their children. Some of her children worked within the church and others worked outside of TBC in the community to make a difference in other people's lives who needed uplifting.

Barbara was also active in her Neighborhood Association as the Cochair of Fountain Hill for many years. She was a Parent of the Teacher Association (PTA) Executive Board Member and Cochair of the Needham High School METCO Parent Association. She advocated for African American and students of color to receive a quality education in the Boston Public Schools as well as the various communities her children attended school in the METCO Program. She believed that all children must have equal access to a high-quality education.

A reporter from the Boston Globe interviewed her on April 16, 2016, regarding her 4th great-grandfather, Winsor Fry, a free enslaved man who fought in 10 battles in the

Revolutionary War. And, on her 90th Birthday (2019), she celebrated with family and friends in East Greenwich in honor of Winsor Fry, which culminated in a head stone being installed at his gravesite. Both the East Greenwich Pendulum and East Greenwich News covered the historic and celebratory event.

Most recently (2024), she participated in an interview and was videotaped by Homes for Equity (HFE), where she gave a historical perspective of what her home ownership experience along with her husband was like from the 1950’s to the 2000s, including how she worked with the community agencies and folks to improve their situation as they acquired housing and or homeownership in Roxbury.

Among, her many accomplishments, she is a member of the daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and a Lifetime Member of the East Greenwich Historic Preservation Society.

Barbara Louise Boyd Toney was a Virtuous Woman as well as a Renaissance Woman in all aspects. She was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, nurturer, soloist, teacher, prolific writer, avid reader, entrepreneur, inventor, problem solver, motivator, effective leader, social coordinator, historian, community activist, bona fide cook and baker and one of the last Mothers of TBC’s Heritage. Yes, she was a humble servant of the Lord who had enough love in her heart to love whosoever came into her presence, Barbara will be missed, but her rich legacy will live on through her life works!

In lieu of flowers please make donations to Twelfth Baptist Church per request of the family. 

http://www.tbcboston.org/

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.