Preston Sibley Barber Jr.

Preston S. Barber, Jr.
AUGUSTA, Ga. - Mr. Preston Sibley Barber, Jr., 75, entered into rest on June 26, 2017. He was born in Augusta, Georgia on October 23, 1941, and was a life-long resident of Augusta. He graduated from The Academy of Richmond County and the University of Georgia. He was a member of the United States Army Reserves. Mr. Barber started working as a teacher at The Academy of Richmond County. Later, he began a career with the Augusta Youth Development Center for 28 years where he retired as manager of the diagnostic unit. He was a life-long member of St. James United Methodist Church where he was treasurer for 34 years. He was a man of integrity and service, volunteering his time to the community including church projects and the Augusta Rescue Mission soup kitchen. As a young man, he was an avid coin collector and later became a baseball card enthusiast. Mr. Barber is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Thomas Preston Barber and wife Jenny Howard Barber. He is also survived by several cousins, Kathy Barber Barrett, Richard Wingfield Downing, Kaal Day Huggins, Susan Barber Lokey, and his devoted friend, Sara R. Kelahan. He was preceded in death by his parents, Myrdie Goodman Barber and Preston Sibley Barber, Sr. A celebration of his life will be held Friday, June 30, 2017, 11:00 AM, at St. James United Methodist Church with the Rev. Thurman Norville officiating. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Richard Downing, The Honorable John Flythe, Jason Huggins, Joel Huggins and Richard Isdell. Brian Ellis will be an honorary pallbearer. If so desired, the family requests in lieu of flowers that memorials be made to St. James United Methodist Church, 439 Greene St. Augusta, GA 30901. The family will receive friends on Thursday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 PM at Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd. Augusta, GA 30907 (706)364-8484. Sign the guestbook at AugustaChronicle.com.