Barbara Ann Stallings Hacker Crowell

Barbara Ann Stallings Hacker Crowell, 74, passed away peacefully on January 10, in her assisted living apartment in Alexandria, Virginia, after living with ALS for a year and a half.

Barbara was born in 1951 in Cumberland, Maryland, to Mary Graham Stallings and Robert E. Stallings. The youngest of three, she adored her big brother Johnny and her older sister, Jane, both of whom preceded her in death.

She grew up in Cumberland and graduated from Allegany High School in 1969. She went on to attend Frostburg State University, where she majored in Education, met her wonderful Theta Delta Pi sisters, and graduated in 1973. In 1974, Barbara moved to Northern Virginia, where she would build a life devoted to teaching, family, and community.

In 1975, Barbara met and married the late Frederick Hacker Jr. within the span of eight months. Their marriage lasted 21 years, and she often said how blessed she was that he brought two step-sons into her life and that together they had two children of their own. She loved to say that their children got “the best of both of us and none of the worst.” They later divorced in 1996.

Within six months, Barbara met Bear Crowell, the man with whom she would share the rest of her life. They married in 2007, blending families and deepening a life already rich with love. They split their time between the beach in Delaware, his home in Alexandria, and a cabin in the Shenandoah Mountains. They shared a wonderfully blessed life together, full of love and adventure.

Barbara dedicated over 50 years to teaching children, including more than 25 years with Fairfax County Public Schools. Her favorite grades were 5th and 6th, though she taught 4th through 6th and gifted classes as well. After retiring, she continued teaching as a long term-sub and resource teacher. Ultimately, she became a volunteer at The Hope Center near her beach house in Delaware until December 2024, when ALS had progressed too far for her to physically continue.

She loved the children she taught and worked tirelessly to make meaningful connections with each one. Her classroom was filled with laughter, creativity, and hands-on learning. She introduced interactive notebooks that brought lessons to life through art and imagination. She directed and produced memorable plays at Hunt Valley Elementary School, including Tall Tales and Heroes and Let George Do It. Her fifth-grade Renaissance Fair became a beloved tradition, where students dressed in costume, bartered for goods, and learned the etiquette of nobles. She also created a “Greek Festival” unit that taught values through food, debate, and immersive experiences. As a sub she loved to give the children Greek letter names in such a fun and exciting way as to make each child feel special.

In 2006, she was awarded an Economic Teaching Grant that brought her to Lithuania to study its economy—an opportunity she treasured.

Barbara’s impact extended far beyond the classroom walls. Former students remembered her as “one of a kind”—an A+ teacher who made learning creative, engaging, and unforgettable. She had a remarkable gift for making each child feel individually known and cared for. Many shared that they still use lessons, games, and “tricks of the trade” she taught them decades ago. She brought joy and laughter into every room. Colleagues described her as energetic, imaginative, and inspiring—someone who mentored fellow teachers and shaped classrooms beyond her own. To countless students and families, she was more than a teacher—she was a ray of light whose influence continues to ripple through generations.

Later in life, she found a spiritual home at Mariner’s Methodist Church, where she loved helping with “Feeding the Sheep,” teaching Bible lessons to children, participating in summer camps, and even joining the church choir. That’s where she began volunteering at The Hope Center too, supporting their after-school programs. Wherever there were children to encourage, Barbara showed up.

ALS struck Barbara quickly and relentlessly. What began as slight weakness in her hand in June 2024 progressed to falls by November, the loss of driving by December, and full reliance on a wheelchair by February. Having watched her own sister battle the same disease years earlier, she understood its cruelty—yet her journey unfolded differently and progressed rapidly. Through it all, her mind remained sharp, fully aware as she faced the daily reality of physical decline.

But ALS never took her spirit.

She faced her illness with Jesus and love in her heart. She was determined that the disease would not define her and often expressed that she wanted everyone to know how deeply she loved them. When she lost the ability to text and post using her hands, she learned to use an eye-gaze communication device—mastering a technology many are unable to at that stage of the disease—so she could continue sending and receiving messages. She used it daily to stay connected with those she loved.

No matter what she was feeling physically, she made others smile. Visitors were greeted with warmth. Conversations were filled with encouragement. Those who came to comfort her often left feeling uplifted instead.

Barbara was a devoted mother to Bryan Hacker, and Allison Hacker Juhl, and a loving stepmother to Eric Hacker, Alex Hacker, Kellie Prouty and Shane Crowell. She was a proud grandmother to Ben Hacker and Nate Hacker (sons of Eric and his wife Sue Hacker), Josie Hacker (daughter of Bryan and his wife Rea Hacker), and Mackenzie Juhl and Austin Juhl (children of Allison and her husband Kris Juhl).

Barbara will live on through her children, grandchildren, extended family, dear friends, and the countless students whose lives she shaped. She left her loved ones with sayings that will echo for generations—“On a roll, with Mrs. Crowell,” “Rollin’ Babbs,” “Arete (do your best)” and her proud declaration that she was both a “Teacher and a Preacher.” She reminded her children often, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all,” a simple truth she lived daily, and “Inch by inch, life’s a cinch; mile by mile, life’s a trial.”

She believed deeply in the “Earth Angels” God placed in her life—friends, caregivers, family members, and former students who showed up with love and loyalty. Now, her family finds comfort in knowing she is in Heaven, whole again, guiding and cheering them on just as she always did.

A celebration of life for Barbara Crowell will be held on April 18 in Northern Virginia. More information will be posted on Facebook or can be obtained by reaching out to her family.