Richard Garrett O'Barr

Mr. Richard Garrett O'Barr, 20, of Biloxi, MS, died Thursday, January 12, 2006, in Wiggins. Richard, was preceded in death by his grandparents, C. Darwin Ryals, Sr., Walter Morris O’Barr, Sr. and Maggie Whitt O’Barr; uncles, Judge Walter Morris O’Barr, Jr. and Ralph Eugene Kennedy, and aunts, Frances O'Barr, Virginia Sumrall and Flossie Bond. Survivors include his parents, Bobby G. O’Barr, Sr. and Jennifer Ryals O’Barr of Biloxi; brothers, Morris Clayton O’Barr of Biloxi, William Clinton O’Barr and his wife, Tammy King, of Memphis, TN. Bobby G. O’Barr, Jr. and his wife, Daphne Humphries, of Biloxi; Sister, Mrs. Candace O’Barr Jones and her husband William Walker Jones, III, of Jackson; maternal grandparents, Nelda Ryals Guest and James M. Guest of Lakeland, FL; his aunt, Christa Bond and her husband, Leo, of Gulfport; his uncle, C. Darwin Ryals of D’Iberville; nephews, C. Darwin Ryals, III and his wife, Lynette, of Columbia, MO, Jake Bond and Joshua Bond of Gulfport, Corey O’Barr and Bobby G. O’Barr, III of Biloxi, and Boyce Holleman of Jackson; nieces, Jeni Bond of Gulfport, Holly O’Barr, Maggie O’Barr, and Alma O’Barr of Biloxi and Bailey O'Barr and Leslie O’Barr of Memphis, and his great aunts, Helen Hatten of Wiggins and Ruth Morris and Lee of Houma, LA; first cousins, Merry Margaret O’Barr of Seattle, Washington, Peggy Kennedy Sifers and her husband, Jim, of Gulfport, Theresa Gail O’Barr of Portland, Oregon. Richard, the beloved son of Bobby G. O’Barr, Sr. and Jennifer Ryals O’Barr, was born on August 13, 1985 in Biloxi, MS. Our Dear Richard was raised in Gulfport and Biloxi. He attended Westminster Academy in Gulfport and graduated from Mercy Cross High School in 2003. He was an All American Scholar and a member of the United States Achievement Academy. He was also a member of the Key Club, the Science Club and S.A.D.D. Richard pitched for Biloxi, Gulfport, Mercy Cross and MGCCC, Perkinston Campus baseball teams. His parents did not miss a game. Richard loved baseball, golf and Nintendo. Richard loved all his friends, most he had known since childhood. Richard was a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Gulfport. He was a member of Barry Lyons’ Biloxi Breeze baseball team, where, again, he continued pitching, just like his father had in his youth. One could always see Richard’s parents in the stands, no matter the locale, and they, too, were blessed with dear friends cultivated through Richard’s life-long baseball and other school activities. Richard attended the Perkinston campus of MGCCC where he was a pitcher for the Bulldogs. Richard and his friends continued to show their strength of bonds after high school. He was on his way to Ole Miss next year to become a third generation lawyer. Richard will be sadly missed by all who knew this wonderful person. His smile and contagious, vibrant personality will be remembered forever. Visitation will be on Monday, January 16, 2006, from 6 till 8 p.m. at the Pass Road Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Homes in Biloxi. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Biloxi where friends may call one hour before service time. Interment will follow in Gulf Pines Cemetery in Long Beach. In Lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials be made to the MGCCC Foundation, (designated to baseball in memory of Richard O'Barr) Attention Jerry Hess, Hwy. 49, Perkinston, MS.