Jennifer Walton Vincent-Barwood
Jennifer Walton Vincent-Barwood of Richville, NY passed away Wednesday, August 27th at 3:33 PM after a three-year battle with cancer. She was 68. She is survived by her husband, John McCloskey, and their cat Ms. Tabla FangClaw of Richville, NY, her son Zachariah Knight , his wife Elizabeth (Herrington) Knight, and their daughter, Evelyn Knight of Milliken, CO; her daughter Zoe Knight of Boston, MA; her brother Scott Vincent-Barwood of Sackets Harbor, NY and his daughters; Connie Takeshita of Rupert, ID and Aubri Vincent-Barwood of Kapahui, HI; her bonus brother Thomas Gardner and his partner Terri Chalone of Oswego, NY, and her Moon Daughters.
Daughter of Edward Allen “Vince” Vincent-Barwood and Aileen Vincent-Barwood, long time editor of the St. Lawrence Plaindealer. Jennifer was born in Toronto on August 25th, 1956. She spent her childhood living in Africa and the Middle East before her family settled in the North Country in the late 1960’s. These formative experiences led to her lifelong passions for African drumming and world music, and expansive spiritual exploration. Jennifer was well known in the North Country for her public Winter Solstice and Samhain (Halloween) rituals held at St. Lawrence University for over 25 years, where she was also Ambassador for Pagan Ministries and mentored many students in her spiritual practice. As a drummer and community builder, she facilitated countless community drum and dance events in the North Country, in addition to accompanying African dance classes at SUNY Potsdam and SLU, where she was also a long-time member of the SLU Community Choir, Early Music Ensemble, and The Any Music Singers.
Professionally, she worked at NCPR, SLU’s ODY Library and Jennison’s Antiques before opening her own vintage boutique, Re-Creations, on Main St. in Canton. She went on to work for NYSARC (now The ARC) for 27 years, and retired from her administrative position there in 2021. She spent her retirement in her garden, weather permitting, or curled up with a good book when it was not. She was full of love and will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate enough to have known her.
There will be no services as per Jennifer’s wishes. In lieu of flowers Jennifer wished donations to be made to the Canton Free Public Library, 8 Park Street, Canton, New York, 13617. Or, if you feel compelled, you may honor her by planting a tree, growing a garden, singing a song, drumming around a fire, howling at the moon, or however you see fit to honor her loving, wild spirit.
