John Wayne Barber
January 20, 1948 – June 6, 2021
John Wayne Barber, 73, of Donalsonville, GA, passed away Sunday, June 6, 2021.
The funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 10, 2021 at Bethany Baptist Church with Rev. Marty Anderson officiating. Interment will follow at Bethany Baptist Church Cemetery with Phil Long, Mallory Miller, Johnnie Nichols, Devin Morris, Trey Faircloth, Chris Barber, and Nazario Trejo serving as active pallbearers.
The family will receive friends prior to the service, from 1:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m., at Bethany Baptist Church. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.clarkfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Fellowship Baptist Church, 2861 Spring Creek Road, Brinson, GA 39825 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
John Wayne Barber was born January 20, 1948 in Donalsonville, GA, the son of Malory Curtis Barber and Virginia Nichols Barber. He was a graduate of Bainbridge High School, Class of 1966, and proudly served his country in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. John Wayne married Cheryl Smith in 1968 and they made their home in Southwest Georgia. He retired from John B. Sanfilippo & Son and was a member of Bethany Baptist Church.
Family was always first; John Wayne knew the importance of a strong foundation in the home and lived as an example to others. He was a US History buff and could spout off random information at the drop of a hat. John Wayne loved the outdoors and spent many hours fishing and gardening. Crossword puzzles were a favorite indoor activity but only if his Georgia Bulldogs were not playing.
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Cheryl Smith Barber; his children Alecia Barber Kelley and her husband, Bruce, and Corbitt Barber, all of Bainbridge; his grandchildren, Kendall, Caroline and Levi; and his siblings, Curtis Barber (Jan) of Roanoke, VA, Cecilia Barber Miller (Donnie Ray) of Donalsonville, and Shea Davis Smith (Barry) of Jackson, NC. In addition to his parents, John Wayne was preceded in death by his brother, Cecil Barber.
The Barber Family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Sydney Cochran, Regenia Jones, and the staff of Kindred Hospice for their kindness and compassionate care.
Max Bryant and the staff of Clark Funeral Home are assisting the family with arrangements.
