Dr. Jean Barefield: From Faith to Faith
photo by JnJ Photography
By Stanford Moore
Dr. Jean Barefield met her husband, Dennis Barefield, at a party in 1968 and they married in 1969. This turned out to be one of many defining moments that changed her life forever. She couldn’t help but remember what God says in Jeremiah 29:11: “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” “I’m sure glad that God knew because I had no idea what I was getting into”, says Dr. Barefield. Of course, now when she looks back, she can clearly see God’s hand moving her and positioning her to walk into her destiny even when she was not walking according to his word. At that time, Dr. Barefield was working a full-time job, and a part-time job while working on her A.A. degree at Los Angeles Trade-Technical Junior College. She didn’t know it then, but things were about to get a whole lot tougher.
“My husband had grown up around horses and about 10 years after we married he decided to buy a horse. I fell in love with Thunder and my husband bought me a horse that I named (Honey), although the name on her papers was (Bet Ur Bux). As a child, I never dreamed of owning a horse or becoming a cowgirl. I grew up in the city and the only knowledge of horses that I had was due to watching them on television.
photo by JnJ Photography
We bought our first horse property and I entered a whole new world where western living was not just a hobby; it became our lifestyle and I loved every minute of it. My husband wasn’t satisfied with just owning horses. Before long we had goats, chickens, turkeys, and dogs.
My husband helped me to learn about raising animals and I also took some horseback riding lessons. Within one year of taking lessons I was able to get a barrel horse and started going to jackpots. I was 45 years old at the time and placed 6th in my very first rodeo at the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo in Oakland, California. I was so excited I could not fall asleep that night and was so tired the next day I could barely get up the strength to mount my horse to make another barrel run. I won a whopping $48. I think I had won more at some jackpots prior to even entering the rodeo but being in that rodeo was the highlight of my rookie journey.
photo by JnJ Photography
Well there were many more rodeos after that mostly in the International Professional Rodeo Association circuit where my husband competed in Calf Roping and Team Roping. My riding ability never matched that of my husband but we sure had a lot of fun and riding was very therapeutic for both of us.
I worked a full-time job as a nurse’s assistant and a part-time job as a clerk while working on an A.A. degree in general education. Then I got a job as secretary at the Board of Education and earned my B.A. degree in Sociology. I worked as a Social Worker for Los Angeles County Department of Child and Family Services for approximately 20 years before returning to school to get my Master’s in Counseling Psychology. I then worked as an intern and as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health for approximately 10 years. I stayed focused and stuck to my strategy of using education to take me to the next level and it payed off.
photo by JnJ Photography
For two summers, I held Horse Camp for children at my ranch which included: riding lessons, bible study, crafts and lunch. It was a lot of fun for me and the children but I was not able to continue having camp due to medical problems.
By 2009, it had been several years since I had competed and my husband had just begun to help me to make a comeback when he got very sick and subsequently passed away on June 3, 2010. Of course, I was devastated and it took me a long time to go through the grieving process. I had no desire to ride again and could barely stand to look out back at the barn, truck, trailers, and horses without crying.
photo by JnJ Photography
But my faith in God would not let me give up. I kept fighting through several illnesses (polymyalgia, severe arthritis and sciatica), along with the grief and loss, and eventually was able to compete in the Bill Pickett Rodeo again in 2015. I had promised my husband that I would ride and compete again, and by the grace of God, I did. I also returned to school and graduated a month after that rodeo with a Doctorate in Ministry.
I give all the praise and glory to God for bringing me through those very tough years. He continues to amaze me with His loving kindness. Thanks to God I have everything I need to live my life free of financial worries.
Recently I applied for and was awarded a sponsorship from the Live The List nonprofit organization. They are paying for my entry fees for an entire season for two separate barrel racing organizations in order to help me win a saddle in honor of my husband. I am humbled by their commitment to support me and I plan to go out and do my very best to make them proud.
photo by JnJ Photography
I will not let the pain that I experience daily, nor my age (75), stop me from living my life to its fullest. I had a stroke in January of 2016. Two months later I went to a barrel race and won first place in the senior third division. It’s hard work being a cowgirl, but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil. 4:13