Bishop James C. Barker, Jr.

Bishop James Barker, Jr., 86, of 362 Southwood Drive, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 22, 2018 at Sampson Regional Memorial Hospital with his loving family by his side.

A Funeral Service celebrating Bishop Barker’s life will be held Wednesday, January 24th 2018  at 11:00 am at Royal-Hall Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jimmy Honeycutt and Rev. Jeff Stewart officiating. Burial will be held privately at Grandview Memorial Park.

Born on March 10, 1931 in Pamlico County, North Carolina, Bishop Barker was the son of the late James Candler Barker, Sr. and Lillie Gibson Barker. After childhood he moved to Washington, North Carolina to farm with his sister, Carol.  It was there that he met the love of his life, Rebecca Louise Crisp, also known was “Sugar Babe”.   They married in 1950, when he was nineteen and she was only fourteen. They recently celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary on December 2, 2017. 

Bishop Barker began his ministry in 1954, by doing mission work, prayer meetings and being an interim pastor at churches when he was called upon.  He attended Bible Training Institute of Cleveland, Tennessee, graduating in 1967.  He was an evangelist for eight years and a pastor for forty-six years before retirement. 

He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Rebecca Louise Barker, of the home; a daughter, Arzella Stephens and husband, David of Laurens, SC; three sons: Jimmy Barker and wife, Kathy of Clinton; David Earl Barker and wife, Gail of Seneca, SC; and Michael Wayne Barker and wife, Jean of Florence, SC; four sisters: Ethel Warner, Margie Peaden, Lillie Mae Pegram and Beatrice Apple; and two brothers: Roosevelt Barker and Candler Barker. God also blessed their family with eleven grandchildren: Charity, Bobby, Angel, Christopher, April, Jamie, Jonathan, Timothy, Wayne, Keith and Alisha; nineteen great-grandchildren: J.W., Tiffany, Jason, MaryAnn, Mason, Spencer, Destiny, Faith, Dylan, Cody, Talen, Taylor, Kaden, Kameron, Hunter, Madison, Nicholas, Haleigh and Cooper; and five great-great grandchildren: Caroline, Berklee Adam, Ryder, Camden and Kaleigh.    What a legacy he leaves behind! 

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by five sisters: Carol Lee Midyette, Arzella Midyette, Elizabeth Barker, Christine Modlin, Edna Lancaster; two brothers: Gilbert and Floyd Barker and a great-grandson, Breyden Stephens. 

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service, beginning at 10am at Royal-Hall Funeral Home; and other times at his home. 

Royal-Hall is honored to serve the Barker Family. 

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