J.T. Barr

James Talmadge Henry Damascus Barr, 84, went to be with the Lord on Monday, December 12, 2022, surrounded by his loving family and friends.

J.T., as he was known to everyone, was born on April 19, 1938, in Cash, Arkansas.  He was raised on his family’s farm in Cash by his parents, Jim and Alice Barr, as the youngest of five children.  He attended school in Cash and Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, and was a graduate of Cash High School.  He was a veteran of the United States Army, and it was during his time with the service in the early 1960s that he solidified the flattop haircut he would be known for throughout the rest of his life.

He is survived by his wife Sybel Key Barr of Jonesboro, three children, James Barr (Shawna) of Jonesboro, Stacey Barr Blaxton (Justin) of Jonesboro, and Phillip Barr of Jonesboro.  J.T. is also survived by nine grandchildren, Lauren Wilcox, Blair Wilcox, Emmy Kate Barr, Caroline Barr, Alana Barr, Brando Barr, Oliver Barr, Lily Barr, and Bria Barr, and by his many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

J.T. was preceded in death by his parents, Jim Barr and Alice Barr, one brother, Grover Barr, and three sisters, Marie Barr Davis, Tula Barr Arnold, and Mary Barr Hawkins.

J.T. and Sybel were married on June 18, 1960, and their union was strong and loving for the over 62 years that they were together as husband and wife.  They raised three children together and doted over their nine grandchildren.  J.T. never missed an opportunity to celebrate Sybel’s birthday or their anniversary by making sure she received a rose for every year they were celebrating, as when he recently sent her 62 roses on their 62 ^nd anniversary.

Nothing was more important to J.T. than his family, and that included every sibling, niece, nephew, or cousin that he could find.  He loved getting together with all of them whenever he could, whether that was Thanksgiving Dinner at his parents’ house in Cash and at his sister Marie’s house following his parents’ death, or at every annual family reunion.  He would spend hours talking and laughing with as many family members that he could.

J.T. maintained a strong relationship with God and his Church.  A founding member of the Southwest Church of Christ, J.T. never missed a service if he could help it and attended at least three times a week.  He was often there much more than that as a member of many boards and committees and gave generously with his time and money supporting God’s mission.

J.T. and Sybel were blessed to have many friends over their years together, but none were closer and more precious to them than Artie & the late Donna Flanigan of Jonesboro.  The four were always together for more than five decades, often vacationing together and usually playing cards at least twice a week.  Following the passing of Donna, J.T. and Artie began playing cards regularly with J.T.’s brother-in-law, Jackie Sparks, and became known as the “Three Musketeers.”

J.T. had a passion for going to Lake Norfork, located near Mountain Home, Arkansas.  He was an avid boater and water skier and loved to spend as much time as he could with his family and friends at the Lake.  This was also a common location for card games with the Flanigans, with a lakeview in the background.  J.T. and Sybel also enjoyed taking their family on long trips to places such as California, Branson, and Walt Disney World in Florida in their R.V.

A long-time supporter of Arkansas State University, J.T. particularly loved going to Arkansas State basketball games and was a season ticket holder from the early 1960s up until his death.  He was a constant presence at Indian Fieldhouse and then the Convocation Center, rarely missing a home game.  J.T. and Sybel would also often travel to wherever the conference tournament would be held to follow the team, and he was in attendance when ASU played in the 1999 NCAA Tournament in New Orleans.  J.T. was a member of both the Indian Club and the Red Wolf Foundation and developed close ties with the late Bill Templeton and Nelson Catalina over the years.

Another passion for J.T. was his love of horses, which led to his partnership with Jack Daniels and the late Gaylon Gibson on B,D,&G Quarter Horses south of Jonesboro.  The trio owned and bred several successful Quarter Horses, including the World Champion in1978, Impressive Prince.

Possessed with a strong work ethic, J.T. was able to take his high school education and build a good life for his family.  He began by farming and driving a truck for Barton’s Lumber Company, but he soon turned to his passion for building things.  Initially working for his father-in-law, Russell Key, a prominent local carpenter in Jonesboro, J.T. quickly developed the skills and knowledge he would need.  Jonesboro is filled with the houses, apartments, and commercial buildings that J.T. erected around town as a builder beginning in the late 1960s and early 1970s.  J.T. eventually developed properties in Little Rock and Hot Springs in Arkansas, and also in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.

Alongside the buildings he built, J.T. built great working relationships with Tommy Staten, Jerry Jones, Charles Miller, Buzz Looney, and the late Frank Snellgrove, and also several strong banking relationships with the likes of the late Wallace Fowler, Harold Perrin, John Freeman, and Joe Cullum.

Visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00, on Thursday, December 15, 2022, at Southwest Church of Christ, Jonesboro, Arkansas.  The funeral services will be 10 a.m., on Friday, December 16, 2022, at Southwest Church of Christ with Jimmy Adcox officiating with Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.  The burial will be immediately thereafter at Jonesboro Memorial Park.

Pallbearers are Brando Barr, James Barr, Phillip Barr, Oliver Barr, Justin Blaxton, Allen Carmichael, Dr. Brad Erney, and Michael Hawkins.  Honorary pallbearers are Artie Flanigan, Jackie Sparks, Ike McMeans, Jack Daniels, Charles Miller, Harold Perrin, Dr. Adam Woodruff, and Dr. Steve Woodruff.

Memorials may be made in J.T. Barr’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org or to Southwest Church of Christ, 1601 James Street, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401. To sign an online guestbook, go to emersonfuneralhome.com.