Buddy Barksdale

Buddy Clark Barksdale of Bolivar passed on to a new life at the age of 80. Buddy suffered a mild stroke on Friday, Nov. 4th and was transported that afternoon to the hospital in Jackson, TN.

A few hours after being admitted, Buddy made a remarkable improvement, sitting up and talking about his daughter, Sherry Joyce Barksdale Hill, granddaughter Audrey Joyce Hill, and great-granddaughter Avery Jade Smith all residing in Largo, Fl. Only a couple of hours after his ”recovery”, and less than twelve hours after being admitted to the hospital Buddy suffered a collapsed lung and passed on, wanting to be reunited with his wife and best friend, Joy Ann Barksdale.

Buddy met his sweetheart Joy Ann Joyce at Trenton High School and married at the age of eighteen. Buddy and Joy Ann remained friends, husband and wife, and inseparable partners for almost sixty years. Buddy Clark Barksdale was born in Gibson County the son of Guy and Loueta Barksdale, on January 23rd, 1942. After high school, Buddy and his new bride were stationed for most of the four years in Meridian, MS., where he helped to train pilots for the U. S. Navy. Upon leaving the Navy, Buddy and Joy Ann moved to Bolivar with their baby daughter Sherry. Buddy worked for Bell South for more than 40 years, excelling in college courses and working his way from Lineman to Supervisor. Buddy rode competitive endurance dirt bike racing for several years, and taught a class for young men at Bolivar First Baptist Church. Buddy standing 6’ 3’’ tall and just under two hundred lbs had a serious knee injury his sophomore year ending his high school football career. Buddy never spoke of it, but was already being looked at by the University of Tennessee at the time of the injury. He remained a staunch fan and supporter of UT football until his recent passing.

Buddy is also survived by sister Ann Mitchell of Trenton and her sons Michael, Patrick, and David Mitchell.

Sherry thanks her friends and Buddy’s friends, for their help in arranging for cleaning services and meals during the last few weeks of his life at home in Bolivar. In lieu of flowers, please send any donations to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org/donate).