Due to COVID a private graveside service for the Rev. Russell “Russ” Talmadge Barker, 89, will be held in Hillside Gardens Cemetery. The service will be live streamed to the Hillside Memorial Chapel & Gardens Facebook page.
Rev. Barker passed away Monday, Oct. 11, 2021.
Born Sept. 17, 1932, in Norcross, and passed away in Columbus. Russ was predeceased by Earline Boles Barker, his wife of 52 years.
He grew up in the Georgia Baptist Children's Home now located in Palmetto, attended Mercer University and graduated from Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He served as a Hospital Corpsman in the U. S. Navy and was active duty in the Korean War.
Russ was ordained to the ministry Jan. 7, 1962. He pastored Dover Baptist Church while attending seminary followed by Altizer Baptist Church in Huntington, West Virginia. Russ and Earline returned to the Atlanta area in 1968, where he pastored Bouldercrest Baptist Church for 14 years. He then became the Director of Missions for the Atlanta Baptist Association and retired in 1999. After retirement they relocated to Habersham County where Russ served as interim pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church and subsequently pastored Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Demorest until his retirement in 2016.
Russ is survived by his wife, Susan Bowles Barker; his three daughters, Sheri Wreen of Snellville, Lisa (Art) Ridgway of Melbourne, Florida, and Cathy (Ron) Swenson of Dawsonville; four grandchildren; and three great- grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, please do an act of kindness for someone in need in Russ' memory or memorial donations may be made to the Georgia Baptist Children's Home, 505 Water Works Rd., Palmetto, GA 30268, or to a church or charity of your choice.
An online guestbook is available for the Barker family at HillsideMemorialChapel.com.
Arrangements are in the care of Hillside Memorial Chapel & Gardens, Clarkesville.