John Anthony Barron

John Anthony Barron

John Anthony Barron passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 18th, at his home, with his wife by his side. John was born on June 9th, 1931, to James Nelson Barron and Mary Newton Barron on a farm in Simpson County, Mississippi and moved to Crystal Springs at the age of five. He attended the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, but returned to Crystal Springs his senior year, where he was elected class president. After graduation in 1949, John went on attend Mississippi State College (now Mississippi State University), but with the Korean War ramping up he answered the call to serve in the United States Army. Upon returning from Korea, John rejoined his classmates and his fraternity brothers in KA at State and graduated in 1956 with a degree in Business Administration. He later taught Economics at State, while pursuing his Master’s degree.

After graduation, John embarked upon a career in business that spanned over 60 years. He began working for a local seed company in Crystal Springs, which he would later purchase, and later moved to West Point, Mississippi, where he was a property and casualty insurance agent for the McCollum & Rice Insurance Agency. John also worked as a realtor and building contractor, overseeing the construction of numerous commercial and residential sites, including the Indian Hills subdivision in West Point. He participated in the founding of the Clay County Bank & Trust, serving as Chairman of the Board, and would later oversee the transition to the Peoples Bank & Trust of Tupelo, which is the forerunner of the current Renasant Bank. Later in life he owned the B & M Pole Company, manufacturing cane fishing poles, among other products, Ace Decoy Anchors, and J & B Products, constructing boat paddles.

John was known as a leader in our community and was involved in a number of local organizations. He was a long-time member of the Kiwanis Club of West Point, where he served as President, and he would later become a member of the Columbus Rotary Club. John was also a Shriner, as well as a Mason, and was a long-time member of Lake Norris Fishing Club, Columbus Country Club, and the North River Yacht Club.

Outside of his working life and family, his greatest passion was golf, and he was known as an astute player and student of the game. John has played many prestigious courses, at home and abroad, including St. Andrews in Scotland, Augusta National, and Pebble Beach. He was one of the founders of the West Point Golf and Country Club, as well as the Elm Lake Golf Course. Perhaps his greatest achievement was being a founding member, with several of his colleagues and friends, of Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, and he was still an active member as of his passing. John also enjoyed tennis and swimming, and in his younger years he trained bird dogs and was an avid bird hunter. In addition, John was an experienced pilot, flying aircraft for both business and pleasure.

Later in life, he met and married the former Meredith Andrews, and they started on a 20-year adventure together that brought them great fun, laughter, and happiness. Meredith was his “person”, completing his heart, and he loved her unconditionally. John was a generous, caring, witty man, who will be forever missed by those that knew him. He was also a man of faith, which guided him through many of life’s trials and tribulations. He lived a long, fulfilling life, and lived up to the line in the old Sinatra tune, “I did it my way”.

John leaves behind his beloved children, Blair Barron Wells (Walter), of Gilbert, SC, John A. Barron, Jr. (Cynthia), of Columbus, OH, Jim Barron (Liz), of Houston, TX, and Claire Barron (Sarah), of Nashville, TN; step-children, Jim Robinson, Heather Evans (Bennett), and Christian Heinkel (Jennifer); grandchildren, Dr. Kathryn Alma Barron, Lacy Barron (Benha), Ryan Barron (Amanda), Barron Wells (Melanie), Marlena Barron, Daniel Barron, Brit Wells; step-grandchildren Caitlin Dampier (Mike), Adaline Evans, Sophia Heinkel, Nadia Heinkel, Isabel Currie, Greg Mollica (Christina), and Joe Mollica (Tom); 10 great-grandchildren, as well as nephews Philip Watson, or Westchester, PA, and Paul Watson (Vanessa), of Madison, MS, and Jim Watson (Carol), of Kalispell, MT. We would also like to say a special thank you to John’s caregivers Tondra Guyton, Lillie Bardley, and Annie Newson.

Pallbearers are Bubba Tom Wolford, Bill Branch, Jim Evans, Web Gholson, Perry Green, Joe Trulove, Lee Stafford, and Bill Clements. Honorary pallbearers are Frank Hopper, Jerry Ishee, John Reese, Gene Smith, Bill Blair, Robin McGraw, Bill McKinney, Kenny Cozart, Jimmy Graham, Tom Story, Macon Gravlee, Allen Tedwell, Bud Phillips, Chance Laws, Ralph McLain, Boyce McNeese, Mack Adams, and Dick Leike.

Visitation will be at Wednesday August 21, 2024 at 10:00 am, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, with the funeral immediately following at 11:00 am. Burial will be in Friendship Cemetery, in Columbus, MS.