JAMES CLYDE BARKER
1931-2013
COLUMBIA – Funeral services for the Reverend Dr. James Clyde Barker, 82, will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 30, 2013, at Centennial Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Columbia, SC, with a 3:30 p.m. burial at Crowders Creek Church Cemetery, Gastonia, NC. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, July 29, 2013, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel.
James Clyde Barker, son of the late Clyde Eddleman and Margaret Blanche Crocker Barker, was born May 15, 1931, in Gastonia, NC. He graduated from Gastonia High School in 1949. In 1951, he received an A.A. from Brevard College and served in the U.S. Air Force until 1955. He attended Belmont Abbey College and then attended Erskine College, receiving his bachelor’s degree in 1962. He was awarded a B.D. degree from Erskine Theological Seminary in 1963. While in seminary, he supplied the Cannon’s Creek and Prosperity ARP Churches. He received a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Erskine Seminary in 1987.
On March 19, 1963, he was licensed and ordained by First Presbytery at the Tabernacle ARP Church. In June, he was installed in his first pastorate at the Union, Edgemoor, and Oak Grove ARP Churches in Chester County, SC. In 1968, he became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church US, in Greenville, Texas. After one and a half years, he accepted a call to Centennial ARP Church in Columbia, SC, where he served until he became the director of Church Extension for the Catawba Presbytery in 1991.
He retired on Dec. 31, 1998, and continued to supply various pulpits across South Carolina, as well as serving as Moderator of Session for several congregations. Dr. Barker served as moderator and stated clerk of Catawba Presbytery. He also served on numerous committees of Catawba Presbytery over the years. His denominational service included the Boards of Erskine College, Christian Education, World Witness, Dunlap Children’s Ministry and Church Extension.
Dr. Barker was one of the founders of the Heart to Heart Golf Tournament, which was held for 11 years under his guidance – raising over $120,000 to benefit the American Heart Association.
Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Sally Ann Ferguson Barker; son, Dale (Nan Watson) Barker; daughters, Elizabeth (Earl) Beckham, Lyn (Doug) Schultz; brother, John (Sally) Barker; sister, Anne (Pete) Burr; six grandchildren, Libby Beckham Finley, Thomas Beckham, Scott Schultz, James Schultz, Morgan Barker, Campbell Barker and one great grandchild, Margaret Grace Finley.
Memorials may be made to Centennial ARP Church, 1413 Laurel Street, Columbia, SC 29201 or Cardiac Rehabilitation at Providence Hospital Development Foundation, 2749 Laurel Street, Columbia, SC 29204.