Mother Barbara Jean Cotton Washington was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on December 6, 1942. Her parents were Deacon Augustus C. Cotton and Mother Opal B. Cotton.  She is the eldest of six children. She grew up in he church and was saved in 1960 at Fourth Street Church of God in Christ (now Emmanuel Tabernacle) under the pastorate of the late Bishop William B. Williams. Mother Washington is from a rich Church of God in Christ heritage that includes Mother Lizzie Roberson, the first National Mother of the Church of God in Christ; and the late Overseer A. W. Wilson her grandfather, who was an early pioneer and former Overseer of the Church of God in Christ in Minnesota and founder of what is now Emmanuel Tabernacle Church.

Mother and Bishop Washington became acquainted through mail while Pastor was stationed in Vietnam in 1966. They met for the first time in 1967 at the International Sunday School Convention in Shreveport, Louisiana, and became engaged a brief time thereafter. She and Pastor Fred W. Washington married on April 20, 1968. She is a terrific mother to her children and a loving and caring wife to her husband. They are the parents of two lovely daughters:  Debra Kaye and Monica Renee`; and three handsome sons: Bruce Alan, Kevin Charles, and Damon Fredrick.  (Debra is married to Julian Montgomery, Bruce is married to Lisa, and Damon is married to Vicky). They also have ten grandchildren: Toure` Alexander, Keenan Jeffrey, Marselais Julian, Kiara Lashay, Destiny Nicole, Asia Renee`, Hannah Marie, Caleb Alan, Samuel Fredrick, and Kenya Elise.

Mother Washington is the co-founder of the New Covenant Church with Pastor Washington in 1972. She has played an integral role in the growth and development of the church. She is a devout and devoted woman of God.  She has served the church in several capacities, to include:  State President of Ministers' Wives Circle; District President of the Mothers' Board; District President of Ministers' Wives; and many positions at the local level. She served as First Lady of the Power House Church in Monroe, Louisiana for eight (8) years. She and Pastor Washington made a lasting positive impact on the church there. She graduated with honors from South High School in Minneapolis in 1960. She was a member of the National Honors Society. She later received a Vocational Education Teacher's license from the State of Minnesota. She recently retired from Transition Plus School after 30 years of employment with the Minneapolis Special School District.

Mother Washington became the elegant First Lady of Minnesota Jurisdiction, Church of God in Christ, when her husband was elevated to Jurisdictional Bishop in 2006. She personifies Proverbs 31: her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.