Barbara Higgins’ journey has led her to serve Walker County in a variety of roles.

Storytelling has always been Barbara Higgins’ favorite pastime.

As her nine siblings gathered around, Barbara would select a passage from the Bible or Grimm’s Fairytales, complete with a makeshift costume and stage set for a performance. Granny Spinners, a character of Barbara’s own imagination, might even make an appearance.

“Whenever cousins from Georgia or any other children would visit, Granny Spinners would have to show up. To this day, they still talk about her, and I’ll often bring her back for a visit,” Barbara laughs.

Barbara attended Walker County schools and landed her first job while still in high school, working at the Walker County Board of Education office. After she completed her education, she settled down and got married.

“I thought I would always be a stay-at-home wife and mother, but that idea didn’t last long.” Barbara recalls.

Her husband lost his job, and Barbara began looking for a source of income.

Through the years, she held positions in the Department of Pensions and Security, the Food Stamp Office, and the Social Security Administration. She eventually became Administrative Legal Assistant for Judge Horace Nation, which opened the door to her first Court Reporter Officialship. Through this experience, she opened the Walker County Court Reporting Firm in 1988.

After many years, Barbara decided retirement was her next path. “I dearly loved court reporting and all the people, attorneys and judges I worked with,” says Barbara. “But after acquiring retirement years and qualifications I decided to retire.”

Throughout retirement, Barbara stayed busy by participating in several local organizations. She also served as a Mary Kay consultant, wrote articles for Pathway magazine, and wrote and performed puppet shows for many occasions. Spending time with her family and diving into her love for cooking, baking, writing, and music was also on her daily agenda.

In 2019, Barbara came out of retirement and began working part-time at the Walker County Commission, where she assists the chairman, administrator, and payroll clerks. She also uses her court reporting skills to take the minutes of the Walker County Commission meetings.

“I assist many people, and I mainly do whatever needs to be done,” says Barbara.

Though life did not always go as planned, for Barbara, it is more rewarding than she could have ever imagined. 78