Barbara Anne Cohen

Barbara Anne (BA) Cohen passed away Friday, November 27, 2015. She was born in Alexandria, Louisiana in 1947 to Hyman Charles Cohen and Virginia May (Brinkley) Cohen and grew up on Lakeview Plantation, along the Cane River. After earning her undergraduate degree in Fine Arts at LSU, BA began her career as a free-lance and commercial photographer, while also working for Deep South Recording Studios in Baton Rouge. She then returned to Natchitoches, where she earned a master's degree in Fine Arts from NSU and began a long career as a photographer in the Natchitoches area. Over the years she also worked in other art forms—including pottery, watercolors, oils, jewelry and poetry—and continued to promote and collaborate with Louisiana musicians. In later years, as illness reduced her physical capabilities, BA used computer-generated imaging and sound to continue her creative pursuits. Throughout her life and her work BA was dedicated to promoting cultural preservation of the Natchitoches and Cane River area. Materials related to her varied interests—the Louisiana music industry, Cane River natural and cultural resources, photography, family history—are archived in the Cammie G. Henry Research Center at NSU. BA was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved aunt, Dorothy Cohen. She is survived by numerous cousins including Craig Cohen of Natchitoches, her long-time caregiver and friend Mekiya Davis, and many other lifelong friends. The family wishes to express their gratitude to Regency House nursing home for their high-quality and compassionate care of BA during the difficult terminal stage of her long struggle with Parkinson’s disease. At BA’s request a memorial service will not be held. A private burial will take place at a later date in Fern Park Cemetery. Those wishing to memorialize BA’s life are encouraged to send donations in her name to the Nature Conservancy of Louisiana, 721 Government Street, Suite 200, Baton Rouge, LA 70802.