Barbara Jean Mercer (née Byford), 79, of Louisville, KY died Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021 peacefully at home.

Barbara was born Oct. 2, 1941 in Marion, KY to Lee Roy Byford and Mary Marcella Byford (née Hodge). Barbara was a graduate of Columbia High School in Columbia, IL. She was of the Baptist faith.

Barbara is survived by her children, Tamara Martin (Katherine Patterson) of Louisville, KY and Anthony Mercer (Vickey) of Madisonville, KY; her grandchildren Nicholas Martin and Dustin Martin of Louisville, KY, Sara Mercer and Zachary Mercer (Hannah) of Madisonville, KY; her great granddaughter Layton Mercer of Madisonville, KY; her sister, Mary Moody of Eddyville, KY and brother, Ronald Byford (Jean) of Columbia, IL; and many dear cousins, nephews, and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her former husband Anthony Mercer; brothers Marshall Byford, Charles Byford, Jerry Wayne Byford, Gerald Byford; and her sister Pamela Marlowe (née Byford).

Barbara was a fiercely independent rock and roll woman who was a devotee of KSHE 95 St. Louis. Her sister Pam was her best friend and the Nancy Wilson to her Ann. Barbara was the rock all her family could count on for support. She made sure you always took your vitamins and never went out without a coat for fear of catching pneumonia. Anytime she ate, she always wanted to make sure you had something to eat too. Her love and care will be incredibly missed by her family.

Barbara will be buried in Mapleview Cemetery in Marion, KY. A private Celebration of Life Service will be planned for a future date for the immediate family.

To honor her love of music and how it helped her cope with a physical disability, the family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of contributions to:

Daniel's Music Foundation, 1595 Lexington Avenue, 2nd Fl, New York, NY 10029

Make a memorial donation at www.danielsmusic.org/donate.

"If you want to get to heaven, you got to raise a little hell."