Carol Barham Dreams do come true
By Stephanie Kelley “God is real and desires to give you hope when all hope seems to be gone,” says Carol Barham, M.A.C. recording artist, singer and songwriter. Barham can testify to God’s ability to turn dreams into reality. It should come as no surprise that Barham grew up to be a country gospel music performer. This genre of music has been a part of her life from a very early age. “My dear mama loved country music,” says Barham, speaking fondly of her mother, Neva Golden Smith. “I grew up listening to Loretta Lynn, Dolly, George Jones and Tammy Wynette.” By the age of three, young Carol was singing along to her favorite country tunes. Barham’s childhood wasn’t filled just with catchy tunes and her mother’s love. There was a dark side to her early years. The family suffered the effects of her father’s alcohol addiction.
“In the four walls of our house was a lot of pain and abuse for my mom,” Barham recalls. “Dad would stay out at the honky-tonks, spending the money he made on booze. That didn’t leave a lot of money to pay bills and pay for the necessities of life.” But Barham’s mom wasn’t going to let her family fall apart. “My mama got a job and was up every morning at 4:00 AM,” Barham remembers. Her mother would fix breakfast for the children before heading out for a long day of work in a factory. “She was a strong woman and did what she had to for her family’s survival,” says a grateful Barham. Barham’s mom relied on God’s power and provision to get the family through those difficult times. “Mama would always say, ‘I heard Oral Roberts is coming on tonight,’ or, ‘Billy Graham is coming on to-