J.D. Barber

CAIRO, Ill. -- J.D. Barber, 86, of Cairo died Monday, Dec. 1, 2003, at his home.

He was born March 22, 1917, in Laurel, Miss., son of Will and Leatha Epton Barber. He and Luella Edwards were married April 5, 1950.

Barber had worked at Swift Oil Co., Sears, E.L. Bruce Co., Ross Propane Gas Co., was sanitation manager at Future City and Cairo, was a certified automotive repair technician, and retired from Burkart Foam in 1981. He accepted the call to the ministry in 1983 at Shiloh Full Gospel Church in Future City, where he had served as deacon and treasurer.

Survivors include his wife; four sons, James Barber of Durham, N.C., Rufus Barber of Springfield, Ill., Ronald Barber of Milwaukee, Charles Barber of Danville, Ill.; six daughters, Barbara Woodson of Thousand Palms, Calif., Juanita Kindle of Dongola, Ill., Verline Smith of Danville, Beatrice Jackson and Leatha Holder of Cairo, Julia Owens of Huntsville, Ala.; 48 grandchildren; and 73 great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at Sparks Funeral Home in Charleston, Mo., from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Shiloh Full Gospel Church. The Rev. Fred Johnson will officiate, with burial in Spencer Heights Cemetery at Mounds, Ill.