Rev. Edwin Joseph Barksdale, Jr.'s Obituary
At 5:45 a.m., Sunday, March 12, 2006, Reverend Ed left us to join his loved ones and friends in heaven. He was born April 23, 1918 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He graduated with a B.A. in History from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Masters of Divinity degree from Emory University, Atlanta. He served as chaplain at Guadal Canal during World War II. He was pastor of several churches in Louisiana. From 1976 until his retirement in 1986, he was Pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Covington. In retirement, he continued to minister to members of the community. In May 2003, he was named Pastor Emeritus of the First United Methodist Church, Covington, Louisiana. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mattie Lois Herrod, sister, Edith Van Slyke, and his parents, Mary and Edwin Joseph Barksdale, Sr. He is survived by his son, Donald Edwin, and daughter-in-law, Dianne, two grandsons, Michael Barksdale and Brent Barksdale, his wife Clara, and his great granddaughter, Jamie Grace Barksdale. Visitation is on Wednesday, March 15 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. with the funeral service at 11:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 203 North Jefferson Street, Covington, Louisiana. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Edwin J. Barksdale Memorial Fund at the First United Methodist Church, Covington.
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