Attorney Barbara Laners, Esq., was a respected civil rights and labor attorney, professor, community leader, radio personality and dedicated advocate for justice whose life was defined by strength, faith, compassion, service and an unwavering commitment to others.
Born in Louisiana, Barbara moved to Washington state as a youth, where she would build a remarkable life and legacy rooted in justice, education, faith, advocacy and community. Her journey from Louisiana to Washington helped shape the woman she became, a woman of determination, resilience and purpose who understood the importance of standing up for others and using her voice to make a difference.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Attorney Laners served the federal government as an attorney with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Her work in federal service reflected a professional commitment to labor rights, fairness and justice and became an important chapter in a legal career dedicated to advocating for the rights and dignity of others.
Throughout her life and legal career, Attorney Laners stood as a powerful voice for fairness, equal opportunity and justice. She understood that the law was more than a profession; it was a means to advocate for people, strengthen communities and create meaningful and lasting change. Her dedication to justice established her as a respected leader and a source of inspiration to those who knew her and those touched by her work.
Barbara also carried her knowledge and commitment to justice into higher education. As a professor at The Evergreen State College, she brought her professional experience, wisdom and passion for advocacy into the classroom. She understood the power of education to challenge assumptions, broaden perspectives and prepare future generations to become thoughtful and engaged members of their communities. Her influence extended beyond lessons and lectures as she encouraged students to think critically, find their voices and recognize their own ability to create change.
Her voice and influence also reached the airwaves. Barbara served as co-host of the popular radio segment Community Potpourri on KRIZ Radio, helping bring important community issues, voices and conversations to listeners. Radio provided another platform through which she could inform, connect with, advocate for and empower the community she cared so deeply about.
Faith was also an important part of Barbara’s life. During the 1960s and 1970s, she attended People’s Institutional Baptist Church, where she worshiped and was part of a community of faith during her formative years in Washington. She later attended Cherry Hill Baptist Church, continuing her spiritual journey and connection to the church community.
Beyond her many professional accomplishments and titles, Barbara Laners will be remembered for the heart she brought to her service. She was a woman of strength and purpose who cared deeply about people and believed in using her education, knowledge, voice, faith and influence to make a difference.
Whether advocating through the law, serving the federal government, educating students, engaging listeners over the radio, participating in her faith community or encouraging someone who needed a voice in their corner, Barbara’s presence mattered.
Attorney Laners transitioned peacefully on Aug. 19, 2026, surrounded by family and friends. While her passing leaves a tremendous void, the principles for which she stood and the many lives she influenced remain part of her extraordinary legacy.
From her beginnings in Louisiana to the life she built in Washington state, Attorney Barbara Laners’ journey was marked by perseverance, education, advocacy, faith, justice and service. She demonstrated what it means to lead with purpose, teach with wisdom, serve with faith, speak with conviction and courageously stand for justice.
Her voice may be absent from the airwaves and her presence from the classroom, courtroom and church pew, but her lessons, her work, her faith and her impact will continue to resonate for generations.
Attorney Barbara Laners will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered and forever honored for a life of purpose and the extraordinary difference she made.
