Charles "Big Daddy" Barker

1929 - 1929

FAYETTE — Services for Charles “Big Daddy” Barker, 77, of Fayette, who died Sunday, June 24, 2007, at Natchez Regional Medical Center, will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Taylor Chapel Baptist Church with the Rev. Percy Turner officiating.

Burial will follow at the church cemetery under the direction of Spencer Funeral Home, Fayette.

Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mr. Barker was born Aug. 7, 1929, in the Nolan Hill Community, the son of Sam Barker Sr. and Elsie Rankin Barker. He accepted Christ at an early age and united with the Nolan Hill African Methodist Episcopal Church. He later joined Taylor Chapel Baptist Church where most of his maternal relatives serve. During his early adulthood, he was employed by the Mississippi Department of Transportation until his retirement. He also served as an auxiliary deputy for a number of years at Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department. He united in holy matrimony to Pearlie Frye. To this union eight children were born.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Ronnie Frye; a daughter, Rosie Frye Jenkins; brothers, Samis Barker Jr., William “Bill” Barker, David Barker and Clyde Barker; grandson, William; and great-granddaughter, Jenkins.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Pearlie Barker of Fayette; sons, Nathaniel Frye of Fayette, William Frye and wife, Linda, and Kery Barker, all of Woonsocket, R.I., and Ray Charles Frye and wife, Deborah, of Orange, Texas; daughters, Ollie Jean Rankin and husband, Leroy, and Connie Oliver, all of Fayette, Bonita King and husband, Lionell, of Port Gibson and Elise Jean Nelson of Chicago; brothers, Maxwell Barker of Fayette and Nathaniel Barker of Baltimore, Md.; sisters, Louvenia Adams and Emma Anderson, both of Fayette, Lucinda Cusis and husband, Eddie, of Leland, Easter Chambers of Vicksburg and Carrie Long of Indianapolis, Ind.; 31 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; godbrother, Jimmy Barnes and wife, Thelma, of Fayette; sisters-in-law, Jean Barker of Gary, Ind. and Ruby Jean Barker of Indianapolis.

Pallbearers will be Alphonse Malone, Lionel King, Ivory Rankin, Leroy Rankin, James Adams, David Brooks, Darnrick Crystian, Jerry Brown and Julius Chambers.

Honorary pallbearers will be Nathaniel Frye, William Frye, Kerry Barker, Leroy Rankin Jr., Josh Jenkins Jr., Ray Charles Frye, Leroy Rankins Sr., Kenny Jenkins and Nathaniel Oliver.