Ottis Barber

Published 8:44 am Friday, August 15, 2014

Ottis Barber, age 65 and a resident of Thomas, died at 1:34 a.m. Friday, Aug. 8, 2014, at his residence. He was born Nov. 9, 1928.

He served in Japan in post-World War II. He was a Baptist minister for 38 years and a lifelong member of Lawrence Creek Missionary Baptist Church. He served his church and community all his adult life and will be sadly missed by family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Margie Barber of Thomas; two daughters and sons-in-law, Janet and Lester Thomas of Thomas and Kerry and Louis Sawyer of Tylertown, Miss.; grandchildren and their spouses, Danny and Suzette Nielson of Hackley, Kim and Jim Miller, Alan and Shelly Thomas and Adam and Hannah Thomas, all of Thomas, and Karen and David Frank of Prairieville, La.; great-grandchildren and their spouses, Dustin and Johanna Nielson, Danielle Nielson, Kassidy Nielson, Darrell Burris, Katie Burris, Mason Rowell, Katie Frank, Christopher Frank, Connor Miller and Jessie Miller; a great-grandchild, Bryce Whaley; and a brother and sister-in-law, Willis and Minnie Belle Barber of Franklinton.

He was preceded in death by two sons, Jimmie Ottis Barber and Kevin Ray Barber; his parents, Ira and Gertrude Taylor Barber; his brothers, Colins, Marley, Hulon, J.W. and Carlos Barber; and two sisters, Elvie Warren and Onetha Simmons.

Visitation was at Crain Funeral Home in Franklinton from 5:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, and after 11 a.m. Sunday. A funeral service was held at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Eld. Duane Ball and Eld. Don Jacobs officiating. Burial followed in the Thomas Cemetery.

The pallbearers were Danny Nielson, Dustin Nielson, Darrell Burris, Jim Miller, John Mord, Adam Thomas and Alan Thomas. Honorary pallbearers were Monroe McElveen, Billy Knight, John Breland, Donald Wayne Magee, John Gill, Jack Whaley and Pete Barber.