Who is Barbie?
Rachel M. Gardiner-Cummings, known as Barbie, was born in Cape Palmas, Liberia. As a young woman, she embarked on a journey that would eventually lead her to the United States, where she settled near Los Angeles, California. It was there, in the land of new beginnings, that she was reunited with her childhood neighbor and dear friend, Edward Cummings. Their friendship blossomed into love, and they later married, welcoming their first child, Erica Beanna Cummings, followed the next year by Ebony Barbie Cummings.
A few years later, seeking a quieter life for their growing family, Barbie and Edward moved to Lawrenceville, Georgia, where they raised their daughters with the same love and dedication that defined Barbie’s life.
Barbie was the embodiment of gentleness, kindness, and devotion. She was a woman whose heart was deeply rooted in family, and her greatest joy was the love she gave to those around her. If you asked her what her proudest achievement was, without hesitation, she would say raising her daughters. To her, family was everything, and her love was boundless, spreading beyond her own children to her many nieces and nephews, whom she cherished as her own.
She was a soul so pure, radiant, and rare, leaving an indelible mark on all who knew her. Barbie lost her battle with breast cancer on her birthday in May 2018. Yet, in her passing, she remained the gift she had always been, a beacon of love, light, and strength.
Barbie’s legacy lives on through her daughters, Erica and Ebony, and through the countless nieces and nephews who were blessed by her unwavering love. Her spirit continues to inspire and uplift, reminding us that the true measure of a life well lived is not in the time we are given, but in the love we give.