Obituary of Barbara Juanita Baskerville

Barbara Juanita Baskerville was born April 23rd 1949 in Baltimore Maryland to Nellie Louise Baskerville. Her father was William Hodges. Nellie later married Hardy Lassiter Sr. and their family grew to include Barbara, Hardy Jr. Kevin and Joslyn. Barbara was born with cerebral palsy, and was clinically diagnosed as deaf and mute. Her mother Nellie was a fierce and unrelenting advocate for Barbara's education. Barbara attended the William S. Baer School for children with disabilities where she learned sign language and lip reading. She underwent several operations to enable her to be able to walk with crutches. Barbara also attended residential school at Rosewood State Center for several years. She later returned home and received services through the Maryland Department for Developmental Disabilities. Her joy was attending the League for the Handicapped on Cold Spring Lane. She was employed through their sheltered workshop. She was a hard and diligent worker and received many awards for Worker of the Month. Barbara was well loved and respected at the "League" and made many lasting friendships. When she reached retirement age she received services through the League's Adult Day Program until she was no longer well enough to attend. Barbara was friendly and very social. She spent wonderful hours with members of the Jehovah's Witness Deaf Ministry Program. Through these visits she showed her intelligence and prowess as a highly skilled master of sign language. When she signed, her true personality could be seen. She was animated, funny, curious and precise about what she liked and what she didn't. She also enjoyed social gathering with family and friends, watching TV and using her I-Pad. As her health began to decline Barbara received loving care from her Mother Nellie, her Aunt Trudie and Helen O. her Home Health Aide from Dynamic Health Services. Barbara was given the honor of being Helen's daughter Victoria's godmother. She also received health management, social work and signing services through Med Star Union Memorial hospital and Med Star Good Samaritan Heart and Lung specialist. Barbara went to the hospital for the last time due to her low oxygen levels from heart disease and COPD. On May 11, 2021 Barbara left this world to return to God. The family is deeply saddened by this loss. In spite of her physical limitations Barbara lived a long and fulfilling life. Her life was exemplified by the following Dr. Marin Luther King Jr. Quote: "If you can't fly than run, if you can't run than walk. If you can't walk than crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward." She was our teacher and a great inspiration to all who knew her. She was proceeded in death by her brother Hardy Lassiter Jr. and her father Hardy Lassiter Sr. She leaves to mourn her mother Nellie (Baskerville) Lassiter, her brother Kevin Lassiter, her sister Joslyn (Lassiter) Mason, her Aunt Gertrude Baskerville and many loving cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. The family wishes to thank the League for the Handicap, Med Star Union Memorial/ Med Star Good Samaritan hospitals, Samantha Murray (her service coordinator), the Jehovah's Witnesses' Sign Language Ministry specifically Regina, Carol, Sandy, Chiarra Foster and Family who visited her weekly and the many sign language interpreters that aided her over the years. We extend great appreciation to Barbara's best friends: Barbara and Gloria Jean, who brought her great joy and companionship.