Earnestean’s Bio

Earnestean, affectionately called “Sam’s Wife”, has been the featured speaker at Mother’s Day programs, Women’s conferences and many weekend retreats.

Her strength and wisdom grew through her life experiences, joys and sorrows. Despite it all, she has been blessed and is a shining example of WHAT GOD CAN DO, and she shares a powerful message of God’s faithfulness.

Earnestean will move you to laughter and sometimes tears as she shares her poetry, stories and her faith. She believes that God wants to give us the desires of our hearts if we will step out in faith to follow Him. Earnestean feels called to inspire and encourage women to “bloom where they are planted” and to find their special purpose in life.

Earnestean Barker was born on September 29, 1949, in Brinkley, Arkansas. Her parents were Robert Lee and Helen Katherine Barker. Their family was close-knit; for Earnestean had seven sisters and brothers, including Orejean, who is her twin. As a child Earnestean was known to have a strong and willful personality, as well as a fiery temper and a heart of gold.

She lost her mother at the age of 16. Oregean recounts that, as a result of their mother’s death, all of the children were separated. Earnestean and Oregean had begun the natural process of starting their own families slightly before graduating high school. Oregean, then living in North Little Rock, assumed the care taking of Daron, Earnestean’s first born, until she was able to graduate high school. They helped each other as they both pressed on, continuing to raise Debbie, their younger sister, to womanhood.

When she was able, Earnestean also moved to North Little Rock. She attended several business schools in order to become effective in the work force. Additionally, Earnestean became an active member of Eighth Street Baptist Church in North Little Rock in 1974. She is still a vital member in the same church today. Through the years, Earnestean kept her main focus on her children, her church, and being a steady force in her community.

She is married to her husband, Samuel, and has five children, one daughter-in-law, one son-in-law, and eight grandchildren. Today, as her children look back on their lives, they marvel at the strength that enabled her to work, go to school, and raise five intelligent and talented children, virtually alone. All of those children have attended college; they work; they are active in their communities; and they all lead rich and fulfilling lives.

Because of her loving heart and tendency to reach out to people, she has suffered many disappointments through the years. However, she persevered, and her warmth is as true now as it ever was. As a result, she now loves traveling the county speaking and uplifting others with her messages, poetry and words of encouragement. She enjoys a home that she owns with a husband, Samuel Holloway, who absolutely adores her and shows it in every possible way.