Claudia Barrows – Life at a funeral
AFTER a stressful week at work, many women unwind by spending time with family and friends. But not Claudia Barrows. At the end of her week as an accountant, she suits up and moves to her new role — as public relations officer and hearse driver for Jones Funeral Home and Supplies — a weekend job which sees her also bringing joy to the family of the dead, through song.
“I totally tossed in my Saturdays and Sundays to conduct these thanksgiving services. My job allows me to know several places, visit several churches, meet persons, make friends as well as increase my public speaking and singing abilities,” she told All Woman. “Without a doubt I love my job.”
Known by customers as “the girl with the black jeep”, Barrows joined the team at Jones Funeral Home in 2008 and impressed her manager on her first assignment. She earned a promotion.
“When I returned my boss said, ‘Claudia, as of now I am going to make you conduct funerals instead of doing a typical desk job, as I think a greater value lies there with you instead of being inside the office. The people love you and your personality was off the chain’,” she said.
“I was then given the post of public relations officer and driver.”
Barrows, who holds a bachelor of science degree in accounting and human resource management from the University of Technology, is on weekdays an accountant at Waterford High School in Portmore, a job she’s had for the past 19 years.
But her true personality shines on weekends, when she’s driving the hearse to the church and the graveside, and adding an entertainment spin to the services to lighten the mood of mourners.
Entertainment includes singing and encouraging mourners before the service starts, during the recession, and at the graveside.
“I ensure I get to the church one hour before the service starts, set up the viewing of the deceased and familiarise myself with the clergymen, relatives and friends in attendance,” she said.
“Approximately 30 minutes before the service starts, I give a musical intermission where I sing and extend condolences to get everyone in the mindset that we are here to celebrate, rejoice and be glad. I comfort the bereaved by making what should be a sad occasion a joyful one.”
She explored this route after her boss installed a stereo system in the ‘black jeep’ (Chevrolet Suburban) she drives and placed a microphone in it.
“I saw it while at the graveside of a funeral once, picked up the microphone and started singing with the CD that I was playing while sending condolences, and persons enjoyed it and danced while they walked past,” she said.
She added that the pastor usually continues in the same upbeat mood that she sets before the service begins.
Going the extra mile is a priority for Barrows as she values customer service and offers support to individuals who may fall short in rendering their tributes because they are “drowned in their sorrows”.
However, her unique flair at funerals doesn’t stop at the church service, as she picks up with the entertainment at the graveside.
“In the churchyard you will see persons rocking and singing to every tune I sing. I normally use short, catchy choruses that are known to all,” she said.
In her public relations role, Barrows devotes her time to taking pictures and videos of the services and uploading them to the company’s social media pages so family members who could not attend can see the event.
“I take photographs of each row and I videotape the service as well. I realised that a lot of family members sometimes can’t attend the services, so when they see it online they will leave a comment to say thanks,” she said.
Her devotion to the job sees her even fixing things out of place on the deceased, as she said, “Whatever goes out there represents me. Just as how you’d look at me and say ‘you’re blinging’, I want people to be represented well. It’s something they’ve paid for.”
Barrows says each week she looks forward to her next event, as she has fun while doing her job and never misses out on being in God’s house.
