Dr. Barbara Ann Locke

Dr. Barbara Ann Locke went home Wednesday, December 30, 2020 after a brief illness at her residence in Shreveport, LA. A small graveside celebration was held on January 2, 2021 at Centuries Memorial in Shreveport with a moving vocal tribute from Norma Rushing. Dr. Locke was born July 5, 1931 in Shreveport, LA. She was an active member of Broadmoor Baptist Church from the age of two and joined the adult choir at age thirteen. Every Saturday morning for several years, she and her twin, Norma Jean Locke, sang on KTBS Radio as the "Singing Twins" of the Young Americans Club where they presented an orchid to the "Mother of the Week". She and her sister studied piano, clarinet, voice and art while attending C.E. Byrd High School. They also played in the band and sang in the choirs there. After graduation, Dr. Locke majored in voice and piano at Ward-Belmont College in Nashville, TN. Graduating with honors, she went on to earn her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in Ohio. She and her sister were co-directors of the Music Department at Greenbrier College in Lewisburg, WV for five years. She taught voice, piano and music courses. The choir and vocal ensemble concerts were the highlight of her tenure there. "Twin-Arts Music Studios" was formed when the twins moved back to Shreveport. They had many voice and piano students. She was the choir director at Broadmoor Presbyterian Church for a number of years. She taught voice and music courses for nine years at LSUS as well as conducting the choirs there. During this time, she earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Music and Higher Education Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi. Then, "the Drs. Locke" taught coursework at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, TX. The touring group she organized alongside her sister named "The Chosen Few" was her pride and joy while at ETBU. She was a charter member of the Greater Shreveport Music Teachers' Association and accompanied the Shreveport Women's Choral Ensemble for years while her sister conducted. She is preceded in death by her parents, Olive Norman and Clarence L. Locke, and her devoted twin, Dr. Norma Jean Locke. Left to celebrate her memory are her best friend and companion, Carol Wilson, a number of cousins, and beloved friend, Glenda Lenox. Special thanks to Dr. Jimmy Smith, and Dr. Melanie Smith for years of care. Her passion for life and music knew no bounds. No doubt Dr. Locke is once again accompanying her sister. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 840692 Dallas, TX 75284-0692, Broadmoor Presbyterian Church, 1915 Grover Pl, Shreveport, LA 71105, C. E. Byrd High School, 3201 Line Ave, Shreveport, LA 71104 or your favorite charity.