Dr. Conrad Odell Barrett went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, March 4, 2016, with his family by his side.
Conrad was born the third child out of eight to Grover Odell Barrett and Bertha Irene Sorrells in Homer, Banks County, Georgia on June 21, 1933. He attended school in Georgia until his older sister was killed in a train/car accident, when the family moved to Franklin, North Carolina. This became the place he would always refer to as "home".
God called him to service at a young age and he accepted Christ as his personal savior on July 16, 1949. Conrad borrowed $80 from a local business man to ride the bus to Waxahachie, Texas to attend Southwestern Bible College of the Assemblies of God, from where he obtained his first bachelor's degree. While still in school, he traveled and spoke at different churches, including a church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This is where he met Barbara, his wife of 61 years. They resided in Dallas while he was finishing school and worked at a freight company loading dock. He took a job with Nunn Bush Shoe Company and it was quickly noticed that he could sell. He was promoted to his own store in Florida.
In 1959 he was voted in as pastor of Central Assembly of God where he would remain for 26 years. After semi-retiring he went back to North Carolina to help take care of his mother and worked for the North Carolina District of the Assemblies of God as well as mission work. Missing Oklahoma and his kids, he moved back and started Christian Chapel, and continued to be the senior pastor until his death.
Throughout the years, Conrad never quit going to school. After earning two bachelor's degrees, two master's degrees, at the age of 81 he obtained his Doctorate in Theology.
Larger than life, there were many things he enjoyed, but visiting with people is probably the highest thing on the list. He never met a stranger. The family jokes about not being able to go anywhere, including out of the country, with him not finding someone he knew.
Conrad was able to travel many places, including the Holy Land, vacations with the family to Mexico and many other locales. There were many hunting trips with his son Mike, who predeceased him in 2009, as well as other hunting buddies. Teaching his grandchildren at an early age to hunt, up until two years ago he was still going on pheasant hunting trips with his family. He traveled to North Carolina as often as he could, and when he no longer was able to go, he continued to have a very close relationship with his brothers, sister and nieces/nephews.
Some of Conrad's favorite things were piddling around the farm, gardening, painting, teaching art classes, writing, feeding and watching birds in his feeders, doing "projects" in the barn with Dale, Taylor and Logan. He loved the family farm where he has resided for more than 20 years with his family and all the animals that called it home.
Conrad is survived by his wife, Barbara; son David M. Barrett of the home; daughter, Linda M. Robinson and husband Dale; grandchildren, Taylor Barrett Robinson, Haley Robinson Weaver and husband Jarrod, Logan Dale Robinson, and Brooke Allison Barrett. Also survived by brothers George Barrett (Gayle), Willard Barrett, Harold Barrett, all of Franklin, North Carolina and sister Dorothy Duke (Jack) of Jefferson, Georgia. Nieces: Elaine, Loretta, Dale, Jackie, Lena, Jan, Kristie, and Angie. Nephews: Bill, John, Jeff, Jim, Dave, Doug, and Kevin.
Predeceased by his parents: Grover and Bertha, son Michael Kent Barrett, brother Branson Barrett, sisters Grace L. Barrett and Barbara Gregory.
The family has had been fortunate to be able to take care of him while he was sick. Special thanks goes out to the care from the many friends he made at St. Francis, his friend Dewayne Thompson, First Presbyterian Church in Franklin, NC, United Methodist Church of Porter, Christian Chapel of Muskogee, and Rose Rock Hospice.
Pallbearers: Dale Robinson, Taylor Robinson, Logan Robinson, Jarrod Weaver, Doug Duke, and State Representative Wade Rousselot.
Honorary Pallbearers: Jeff Walden, and Board Members of Christian Chapel: Richard Pfennighausen, Clyde Pride, and Henry Holland.
Services will be held at Christian Chapel at 10:00 am on Thursday, March 10th. There will be a private family burial not open to the public. Closed casket.