In Loving Memory of Dr. Barbara Ann “BAB” Browder, 81
She fought the good fight, she finished the race, she kept the faith. — 2 Timothy
A fiercely independent matriarch, devoted educator, and steadfast woman of faith, Dr. Barbara Ann “BAB” Browder passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family on November 5, 2025. Born August 3, 1944, in Los Angeles, California, Barbara spent her life uplifting others through service, leadership, and love.
She was educated at Douglass School in El Paso, a cornerstone of Black excellence during segregation. Her journey from those halls to district leadership stands as a testament to her determination and conviction. She went on to graduate from Bowie High School and completed her bachelor's and master's degrees at Texas Western College (now UTEP – University of Texas at El Paso), further showcasing her commitment to education and excellence.
Barbara’s calling was education—and she answered it with vision and courage. For more than fifty years, she dedicated her life to nurturing minds and strengthening schools across the El Paso and Gadsden Independent School Districts. In El Paso ISD, she served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and director. She was the inaugural principal for Omar Nelson Bradley Elementary School, where her leadership and compassion helped shape the school’s foundation and spirit.
Later, in Gadsden ISD, Barbara turned her focus to guiding and supporting those who served throughout the district. As Associate Superintendent, she oversaw all areas of Human Resources—recruiting, developing, and mentoring educators, administrators, and staff who would carry forward her legacy of excellence. Her insight and encouragement helped countless professionals find confidence and purpose in their work. During this time, she also earned her Ph.D. from New Mexico State University—a reflection of her fortitude and lifelong love of learning.
Her leadership extended beyond her profession. A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Barbara lived its ideals with elegance and purpose, later serving as a chapter president and mentor to the women who followed her path.
Music was Barbara’s ministry and her joy. As Music Director at Second Baptist Church, she nurtured voices and built a welcoming community of church musicians across El Paso—making room for people to belong, to learn, and to praise.
Family was Barbara’s heart. Lessons learned at the Prothro Browder homestead along with the family built as a student from the pre-integrated Douglass School experience gave a solid foundation on which she continued to build. Recognized twice as PREPS “Mother of the Year” for the love she poured into her great-nieces; she was also a tireless mentor, coach, and sponsor to young people finding their footing. Over the years, she gathered—and kept close—a circle of friendships that felt like family, ever expanding her family base.
After retiring, Barbara embraced travel with her loved ones, especially for shows and theater productions, where the curtain’s rise always sparked her sense of wonder. On Sundays and game days alike, she cheered for her beloved Dallas Cowboys, with unflagging optimism and enthusiasm, no matter the result.
Barbara is survived by her nephew Travis W. Young; nieces Genevieve E. Young and Mary M. White; and the great-nieces she cherished and mothered with deep affection—Sandra Haynes, Lisa Ann Walker (Shawn), and Veronica Graham. She delighted in her great-great niece and nephews—Brittani Graham, Camron Walker, and Jackson Graham—and is remembered with love by a host of extended family and dear friends whose lives she touched. Barbara was preceded in death by those who shaped her early life and legacy, her parents, Lillian Rae Prothro Browder and Stephen Henry Browder, and her sister, Ella Mae Prothro.
In her final months, Barbara faced a private battle with cancer with quiet strength and grace. The family is deeply grateful to the compassionate teams at Interim Health, Provista Health, Texas Oncology, Providence Hospital, and Three Oaks Hospice, whose tender care honored her dignity and brought comfort in her final chapter.
Barbara’s legacy lives on in the lives she shaped, the institutions she strengthened, and the family she nurtured—proof that a life of purpose can echo across generations.
Service Information
A visitation will be held on November 13, 2025, from 4 to 8 p.m., with a prayer service at 6 p.m. at Second Baptist Church, 401 S. Virginia St., El Paso, TX. Funeral services will take place on November 14, 2025, at 12 p.m. at Second Baptist Church, El Paso, TX. Interment will follow at Evergreen East, 12400 Montana Ave, El Paso, TX.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to Second Baptist Church or the Alpha Kappa Alpha Scholarship Fund, honoring Barbara’s lifelong commitment to education, faith, and community.
