Sylvester “Shawty” Barr was born to the late Smiley and Lena Spears Barr on August 11, 1929, in Water Valley, Mississippi. His love of music and song stirred spirits and his moving prayers often resounded throughout Worship Services and Revival Meetings across Yalobusha and Lafayette counties. Converted to Christianity at an early age, he united with Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church, Water Valley, Mississippi, the family’s home church. Whether leading a hymn or offering prayer, he ushered in the Spirit expressing a devotion to our Lord and Savior. In the early seventies, Pleasant Green looked out among the congregants and counted him as having an honest report and being full of the Holy Ghost, and having wisdom, Pleasant Green crowned him deacon, an office he actively held until his health failed.
After years of farming, he secured employment at Chambers Manufacturing, Hobart, Inc. and Whirlpool Corporation. He retired from Whirlpool in the early nineties and served the Oxford-Lafayette County Community as a foster grandparent for the North Mississippi Regional Center, Oxford Mississippi for twenty-six years.
He leaves to mourn his passing his wife of fifty-eight years and caregiver, Corine Toles Barr. To continue his legacy of a surrendered life to Christ, he reared and raised Ethel Mae Barr, Cleveland, Ohio; Willie Mae Barr, Chicago, Illinois; Vester (Delois) Barr, Hazel Crest, Illinois, Lavonne Barr, Huntingdon, Tennessee; Presley (Deborah) Barr, Harvey, Illinois; Angela (Donnell) Williams, Taylor, Mississippi; David (Sandra) Williams, Oxford, Mississippi; Gloria Williams, Rockford, Illinois; Teresa Barr, Oxford, Mississippi. Two sisters, Emmaline Willingham and Annie Brown; one brother, Charlie Barr; six sisters-in-law, three brothers-in-law, forty-two grandchildren, thirty-six great-grands, fourteen great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Smiley and Lena Spears Barr; one daughter, Sarah; two sons, Joe Willie and Roy Lee; five brothers, Cad, Freeman, Henry, S.A., Isaiah,
three sisters, Ardell, Hattie Mae and Martha.