Pierce "Bubba" W. Barnett

Pierce “Bubba” Barnett Jr., 80, of Jonesboro passed away Sunday, October 15, 2023 at St. Bernards Medical Center.  He was born June 13, 1943, in Marianna Arkansas to the late Pierce W. Barnett Sr. and Mina Lee Barnett. Bubba grew up in Marianna and graduated from T. A. Futrell High School in 1962. He attended Arkansas State University for 2 years.

Bubba began his career in insurance at Crittenden Insurance in West Memphis in 1969. On April 1, 1974, he moved to Jonesboro to begin working for Town & Country Insurance Agency. It is there where he met and married his best friend and love of his life Ruth. They were married on October 28, 1976. Bubba so cherished the long-term client relationships he had developed over the 49 years that he delayed his retirement from Sunstar Insurance, formerly Town & Country Insurance, till June 30, 2023.

However, his first love was family and his second was golf. Especially promoting golf to the younger generations. Bubba served as President of the Men’s Golf Association of the Jonesboro Country Club from 1991 to 1996 where they raised over $50,000 for Arkansas State’s Golf teams. In 2007, Arkansas State University recognized Bubba’s many years of unselfish and tireless efforts toward ASU Men’s Golf that the formerly known Indian Classic tournament was changed to the Bubba Barnett Collegiate Golf Tournament. The 28th tournament was just completed at RidgePointe Golf course this year on October 1st through the 3rd. Bubba also received a Presidential and IIAA Board of Directors Citation from the Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas recognizing his efforts with the Trusted Choice Big “I” Junior Golf Classic which is recognized as one of the most prestigious junior golf events in Arkansas and the Nation.  In 2006, this same organization awarded him the Allan Kennedy Memorial Award. He was the first non-serving president to win such an award.

Bubba is survived by his wife of 46 years, Ruth who everyday he would ask “Have I told you that I love you today?”, two children: Glenn French and his wife, Donna, of Jonesboro, Michael French and his wife, Angie, of Kansas City; five grandchildren: Jacob “Jake” French and his wife, Rachel, of Jonesboro, Nathan Carter, of Austin, AR, Morgan French, of Kansas City, Erin Dmyterko and her husband, Jacob, of Kansas City, David French and his wife, Kit, of Eudora, KS; five great-grandchildren: Daniel Dmyterko, Joshua Dmyterko, Hayden Carter, Korbin Carter and Elly French.

Visitation will be Thursday, October 19, 2023 from 12:30-2:00 p.m. at Emerson Memorial Chapel.

The family will have a private Graveside Service with active pallbearers being Jake French, Paul Martin, Randy Gray, David French, Jacob Dmyterko and Nathan Carter.

For lasting memorials the family asks that consideration be given to Arkansas Children’s Research Hospital, archildrens.org/give, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, stjude.org/donate or Northeast Arkansas Humane Society, 6111 E. Highland Drive, Jonesboro, AR 72401.