Barbara Ann Perry (Courtesy Yahoo News)
Barbara Perry, 61, was struck in the head by a stray bullet at 3:23 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, while waiting for her 10-year-old granddaughter in the parking lot of the Family Dollar at 1251 University Ave. in Des Moines.
Police found Perry sitting in the driver’s seat of her black Jeep, a gunshot wound to her head, which appeared to have entered the vehicle through the passenger side window.
She died early the following day.
There were no obvious signs of damage to the Jeep, which had its front windows rolled down.
At a press conference the following morning, Des Moines Police Sgt. Paul Parizek said there was evidence of an exchange of gunfire in the area of 14th Street and University Avenue. The shooting could have been gang related, said Parizek, who believes the bullet was not intended for Perry.
The investigation is ongoing.
Barbara Ann Perry (Courtesy findagrave.com)
Barbara Ann Perry was born in Ripley, Mississippi, March 23, 1955, to loving parents, Johnny Frank and Lily Mae Evans. At the age of 16, she followed her brothers and sister from Mississippi to Iowa in 1971.
Des Moines is where she decided to make her new home with her siblings. She met a yellow man with a head full of hair and a smile that was charismatic. Within him, she found her soulmate. It didn’t take long for them to tie the knot and have five kids of their own.
Married on July 4th, 1987, Barbara Ann started a new journey of her own, not only as a devoted wife, but a caring mother as well. She worked off and on in the health care field for many years. It was actually her experience as a health care provider that helped her nurse her soulmate back to health after a car wreck. And as we know, for them there was no looking back.
Ann had a love for life. She loved her movies, cooking, and even singing once in a while. As you know, she loved to cook and the love she put into it would show. When holidays came around, she would have a lot of unexpected guests and she’d welcome them all the same.
She was the glue that held her family together, not just her kids, but anyone she embraced as family. Solid as a rock is what she would tell her children. You could try to chip her, crack her, or erode her to the core. But it was impossible, because she would not break, she would refuse to break. With every obstacle in her life, she became stronger. She became the woman we all have grown to know and love. And that is what she instilled in her children which is currently being passed on to the grandchildren.
She was the foundation that her family was built on, the strength that keeps them together, and the courage that lets them know that everything will be okay. Her love was unwavering, not only to children but to everyone she called family. Orchestrating family events is where you could find her. Family was important to her, just like she is important to us. Barbara Ann had a bright smile, a love of life, and a heart of gold.
Barbara Ann Perry will always be remembered as a loving wife, mother, sister, and aunt, but she will be remembered most as Grandma, a role she was destined to play.
Barbara Ann passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, September 3, 2016 at the age of 61.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Johnny Frank Evans and Lily Mae Evans; her mother-in-law, Shirley Brown and father-in-law, James Brown; her brothers, Mack Evans and John Evans; brothers-in-law, Ralph Hall and William Hall; sisters-in-law, Damita Brown and Denise Brown; her daughter, Kaneeka Evans; and her step-son, Floyd Matthew Perry IV.
Barbara Perry is buried at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines.
(Courtesy photo Katie Lou, findagrave.com)
Left to cherish her memories are her husband, Floyd Matthew Perry III; her son, Floyd Matthew Perry III Jr. (Nicole); daughters, Sharneeka Evans, Jennifer Evans (Richard), and Floanna Perry (Recoh); step-son, Lovell Logan; brothers, Robert Evans and Bob Evans; sisters, Francis Ekanen, Cassandra Graham, and MaryAnne Evans; grandchildren, Delynn, Laneeka, Ormon, Ra’Shawn, Shawntoya, Anastasia, Sharneeka, Chiocea, Robert, Alexander, Sincere, Ja’Marion, Ja’Nariona, Ca’Mari, Kea’Neaha, Rea’Leaha, Amaree, Jaylen, Jayla, Floniah, LeaAnna, Azzarie, Ehmeris, and Bryce; and a host of nephews and nieces.
There was no visitation. Services were held Monday, Sept. 12, 2016 at 11 a.m. at Amazing Grace Ministries in Des Moines, with disposition at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines.
Hamilton’s Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Anyone with information regarding Barbara Perry’s unsolved murder is asked to contact the Des Moines Police Department Detective Bureau at (515) 283-4864.
Haeeee grandma I love you an I miss you more than you would ever know , I am now 19 an I’m still in disbelief an distress about that day ,I would have never known that , that day was going to be the last day I saw you ! I never knew I was going to lose you so soon hell I didn’t even have in mind you ever leaving me everyday I wonder what life would be like if you was here cause I know good an god darn well I wouldn’t be who I am today I would someone so much better . That day still hunts me down cause I feel I could have saved you I could have ran out the store and held you down till the police came but I was so young and so clueless I didn’t know what to do some days I blame myself because I know I could have saved you but I was an a daze that day I was so lost so confused so hurt lied too everything ! So many people kept telling me it wasn’t you but the entire time it was you ! I knew something was up because you didn’t come in the store right away ! I life hasn’t been the best w/o you man out family is literally fucked up my mom man she drives me crazy an I just ask for you help an your guidance because I literally losing myself day by day I hope you hear me an know that I am so sorry an I should’ve saved you ! I always think your mad at me cause you don’t visit me n my dreams or just let me know your near I think about you all the time an I think about how much we neeed you ! Me an my siblings literally need you the most ! Idk I’m trying to get a good grip on life but this shit is hard after you left grandma it’s been pure hell there’s been happy moments but the bad out do the happy moments n my life I swear ! I really don’t be knowing what to do in life but cry an I’m getting so tired of it I wish I could just bring you back right now today ! Oh god 7 long years of nothing but pain grandma I don’t been through so much an only you would know I done seen things I shouldn’t have seen I done been in things I shouldn’t have been I always wondered when it was gone get better grandpa he’s still holding on I wonder how he dose it but he dose it I feel bad for him every day cause our talk about you ! He just says every time you was his dawg an you really was ! You had his front an he had your back ! I just hope you keep him together he’s all we got an I just ain’t ready for him to leave I just can’t manage life w/o both grandparents I get in here everyday an just wonder when will justice come but it wouldn’t even feel overly good cause we don’t have you back but I guess it’ll be some kinda peace for the family hell it won’t be any for me I want blood but god gots it All I know he do but I’m going to wrap this up I love you more than life its self you was my mother fr ! I just ask that you keep guiding meee an leading me down the path you would have raised me to be on I love you so much an I hope you getting the rest you deserve I wish shit ain’t ever have to be like this but I guess everything happpens for a reason but deep down inside I’ll never understand this one but keep watching over the family we love and miss you more than you would ever know can’t wait to catch up on all the things you know an seen me done lol cause your girl done did slot out here man wish I could go back in time an change a lot of shit cause the knowledge I have known would have definitely been needed for back n the day ! But yeah I love you so much
I remember when this happened. I was just in the area today and I wish her case could be solved. Someone knows something about her case.
Well what have we found it’s been 7 quite years