Today’s FACES of Nashville is different from any other we’ve ever published; I’m thanking you at the beginning for reading it to the end (it will take just a few minutes!) and for considering a $50 donation to Always Bev, through the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. It’s no exaggeration to say your $50 donation could save a woman’s life.
The story behind Always Bev doesn’t begin with a business plan. It begins with heartbreak.
Barb Jordan was a collegiate softball champion — a three-time national titleholder who believed she was invincible. She comes from a close-knit family of seven in California, where vigilance and safety were part of daily life. Her parents, both born in the Bronx, raised Barb and her siblings with structure: be home by dark, get Dad’s approval before making decisions. “We were that kind of family,” Barb says.
But tragedy doesn’t always knock at the front door; sometimes, it disguises itself.
In 1986, just days after Thanksgiving, Barb was back at college when her roommate delivered news that would change everything. “She put her hands on my shoulders and said, ‘You need to go home right away. Something’s happened to one of your sisters.’ I said, ‘One of my sisters is dead. I know it.’ That’s intuition.”
When Barb arrived home, her father opened the door, with her mom crying next to him. “Your sister Beverly was murdered today,” he said. Bev’s fiancĂ©, Rich, the man who had spent Thanksgiving with their family just days earlier, was the killer. For eight months, he had manipulated everyone, including Bev. He moved in quickly, asking her to marry him just months after they started dating. He suggested they live together, combine finances, and purchase life insurance policies.
What seemed like a whirlwind romance was, in fact, a calculated plan. When Bev questioned him about their empty bank account, he said he could explain. She met up with him alone, and he shot her four times.
“Bev was so strong, so confident,” Barb says. “But he played her. Played all of us.”
The grief was immobilizing. Barb, who had always seen herself as strong, was brought to her knees. “My mom always said I took it the hardest,” she reflects, tears streaming down her face. Bev had been her biggest supporter, slipping notes in her ball bag before games, cheering from the stands, and showing up unexpectedly just to encourage her.
But after Bev’s death, silence fell. The pain was so overwhelming, Bev’s name was barely spoken — only twice a year: once on her birthday and again at Christmas. That silence stretched on for decades, until 2018, when Bev’s killer was released from prison. That’s when Barb decided it was time to speak up.
Always Bev was born.
Last year, Always Bev evolved into a nonprofit organization with a clear mission: to prevent violence against women by teaching awareness, warning signs, and self-defense. “The day Rich got out of prison, I said, ‘I have to do something,'” Barb tells us. “Because he’s not the only one walking among us.”
Barb poured years into researching crimes and patterns of manipulation. Her mission is clear: sexual assault and violence prevention. She educates women on the tactics predators use to target individuals, creating awareness in everyday routines and social settings, and offering specific strategies and tactics for safety.
She provides knowledge on recognizing threatening environments and reading body language in individuals who may intend to cause harm, while emphasizing the power of intuition to guide decisions that keep us safe.
Today, Barb travels the country speaking to women from Girl Scouts to collegiate athletes to professionals. Her sessions are part presentation, part empowerment, and all heart. “I know what it’s like to live with trauma,” she says. “I don’t want anyone else to live with that kind of fear.”
Her presentations are tailored to the audience, addressing scenarios of everyday isolation — from early morning gym visits to empty office buildings. She teaches women how to identify charm and manipulation, who to trust and who not to, and how to avoid situations where the element of surprise could lead to danger.
One of her proudest testimonials came from the head of Athletes Unlimited Basketball, who described Barb’s approach as “graceful” despite the gravity of the message. That balance, between urgent and uplifting, is what makes Always Bev so impactful.
Barb aims to give at least 25 presentations a year. Most of her work comes through word-of-mouth. A coach hears her speak and invites her to a university. A mother hears about her and books her for a high school. In 2026, she’s launching a spring tour focused on graduating seniors, those about to head off to college on their own. When her speaking events fall outside of the Middle Tennessee area, travel is Always Bev’s biggest expense, and donations help cover flights, gas, hotel rooms, and meals on the road. “Fifty dollars gets us one step closer to an event that could change lives,” Barb says. Airline miles, rental cars, gift cards — even sandwich shop certificates — are helpful. “It all adds up.”
When she’s not on the road, Barb lives outside of Nashville with her beloved dogs. She hikes often, as Middle Tennessee offers so many beautiful opportunities. “Put me on a trail with my dogs and friends, and I’m good,” she smiles. “Just never alone. Ladies, don’t hike alone.”
As our conversation came to a close, I had to ask her some of our classic “FACES of Nashville” questions, a bit more light-hearted:
Her favorite pizza? The Margherita from Calabria’s in Mount Juliet
Her go-to spot in Nashville? BrickTop’s
Her must-read book for every woman? The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker
And the three things she can’t live without? “My dogs, coffee, and laughter.”
As our conversation wrapped up, Barb shared a photo she uses in her presentations: a picture of Bev with her handwritten notes enlarged beside it. “She always wrote me notes that said, ‘I love you so much,'” she shares. “That’s who she was. That’s who I miss.”
Barb is turning her sister’s story into a life-saving legacy. Through Always Bev, she is honoring her sister’s memory and ensuring that countless other women learn to trust their intuition, speak up, and stay safe.
Because every woman deserves to live free from fear. And because Bev deserves to be remembered.
To learn more or donate, visit our newest partnership with the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
Starting today, we’re spotlighting one nonprofit each month, for which your $50 will make a big difference. Working together, we can make changes in the Nashville community by pooling our resources and saying “yes.”
Thank you in advance for making Nashville even better with your $50 donation.
And please share this on Facebook and/or LinkedIn. During a time with so much polarization, we are looking to bring people together by making Nashville stronger. Again, thank you!
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Looking for more inspiring women in Nashville? See our complete archive of “FACES” here.
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