Big dreams for "Big Mama"
By Mike DeLost
“Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true”. When I hear that quote one person I recently met comes to mind. Patricia Barron, a woman who has traveled through life with a spirit that soars higher than most birds fly.
1942 World War II was the big story around the world, Disney has released its animated movie about a deer named Bambi, and Anne Frank had begun writing her diary. That year, Elmer “Basie” and Lena Givens gave birth to a daughter, Patricia. Born and raised in Omaha and being African American may not have been the easiest life in those times, but Patricia was not one to let anything or anyone keep her down or keep her from being the woman that she is today. Patricia graduated from Central High School and in 1960 decided to join the Navy and worked as a bookkeeper. She stated that it was a very good four years while in the service, she was treated very well, and enjoyed the experience. It was her ticket to college under the GI Bill. Patricia’s mother would have paid for her college, but Patricia was a determined woman from the time she was a child and she wanted to do it on her own. After her time in the Navy, she enrolled at the University of Nebraska in Omaha, where she studied history and sociology. She loved history, but that was not her real love. Patricia would cook and bake with her mother and grandmother Lily, and that’s where her dream started to take shape. In her heart, she wanted to have her own restaurant. Patricia left UNO and enrolled at Metropolitan Technical Community College, now Metropolitan Community College, where she studied culinary arts and received an Associates Degree.
During this time, the country was experiencing the Civil Rights Movement and it wasn’t easy for a woman, especially a woman that was African-American to open a restaurant, so Patricia went to work Northwestern Bell, which eventually became US West. During that time, Patricia had five children, all girls, Donna, Debbie, Delena, Gladys and Carlene.
Active in the community, the Civil Rights Movement, Pilgrim Baptist Church, youth groups, throwing herself into higher education were the steps to take the Black Community into future and make her town a better place for all its people to live and be enriched by the variety of cultures that exist in Omaha.
During the early years of Peony Park, African-American were not allowed in the park. During the protest, she was pregnant and could protest but she sat nearby in a car and showed support. When most restaurants would not let them come and enjoy a meal like the rest of Omaha, there was one restaurant that treated her community as equals, that was Mt. Fuji Inn. Patricia had said that whenever her cousin, Clarence Edwards had come from out of town, he would insist on going there. Change was happening, but it was slow in coming.
Her daughter, Gladys finds a hero in her mother. Patricia has always made time to be with her children, always provided a nice home, and still had time to quilt, knit and sew. Even during the rough times, she never neglected her family and friends, including strangers. She is involved in the Crossroads Prison Ministry, and belongs to action-oriented groups. She is a member of Northside Family Christian Center where she has served in many capacities. She retired in 1990 from US West and started thinking about that dream that she had to put aside all those years, to have that restaurant that she had wanted so many years ago. Patricia “Big Mama” Barron, with her husband, Earnest of 30 years, and her children, family and friends are bringing this dream that she has carried so long to fruition. For 30 years, she catered out of her home starting with cakes, that grew to hor dourves and meals and finally putting it all together for Big Mama’s Kitchen, the restaurant of her dreams. For those who don’t know, Big Mama is a term used in the Black Community for a woman who takes care of things, it’s the place the children go for security. There are many Big Mamas in every Black Community; these are the woman who hold everything together and are respected in the highest regard. When you meet a Big Mama, you will know, because she will leave an impression on you that will make you feel like you’ve been touch by an angel.
Today she back in the game putting together a restaurant and ready to show Omaha and anyone who visits this town the true delight of soul food. She still makes time for her family that now includes 13 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. A woman of character, a survivor, a pillar of the community, but most of all a BIG MAMA!
Stop in and try Big Mama’s Kitchen, open Monday through Saturday from 7:00 am until 3:00 pm for breakfast and lunch. Big Mama’s Kitchen is located at 3223 N. 45th St (45th and Bedford), on the Turning Point Campus Building A.
Big Mama’s Kitchen also does take out and catering. Try Big Mama’s Kitchen once, you will be back, repeatedly.
