Judge Joseph Vance “Joey” Barker, 63, of South Pittsburg, died on December 3.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Matison and Nancy Barker, his grandparents, Judge Vance and Corinne Barker, and James and Imelda McSpadden, and his uncles, Francis and Luther Barker.
Judge Barker was the grand marshal for the South Pittsburg Christmas Parade on the morning of his death. A 1966 graduate of South Pittsburg High School, he attended the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn. While there, he played football under coaches Majors and Moore and went on to graduate in 1970 with a degree in English. Judge Barker also graduated in 1973 from the University of Tennessee Law School and practiced law in South Pittsburg for 19 years, holding licenses in both Tennessee and Alabama. Judge Barker served as attorney for both the City of South Pittsburg and the Marion Natural Gas & Water Board, and served on the Marion County Election Commission for many years. He was also a member of the 12th Judicial and Tennessee Bar Associations. In 1994, Judge Barker was appointed as Federal Administrative Law Judge in Raleigh, N.C., where he worked for one year before moving back home and into the Federal Administrative Law position in Chattanooga.
Judge Barker was a South Pittsburg Pirates fan, a proud Beta and he loved music. He was also a member of the First Baptist Church in South Pittsburg. He is survived by his wife, Cathy Parrott Barker, two daughters, Caitlin and Hilary Barker, students at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, Tenn., and sister and brother-in-law, Jeanne and Keith Henley of Rockwood, Tenn. He is also survived by his in-laws, Betty and Austin Parrott of Chatsworth, Ga., Phyllis Bagley of Westminster, Ca., Craig and Kay Parrott of Ringgold, Ga., Joey Parrott of Dalton, Ga., Angie and Danny Johnson of Chattanooga, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, December 6, at First Baptist Church, South Pittsburg, with Reverend Jonathan Elder officiating. Judge Barker is buried in Cumberland View Cemetery in Kimball, Tenn.
The family requests that those wishing to express their condolences make a donation to the Joseph Vance Barker Scholarship Fund, c/o David Abbott, Peoples State Bank of Commerce, 315 South Cedar Ave., South Pittsburg, Tn. 37380.