Gerald Willis Barfield, Sr. loving husband, father, Papa, and friend to many, passed away on Thursday, December 8 at Tift Regional Medical Center. Gerald enjoyed 88 years of a healthy life. His funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 11, 2022, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with Dr. Jeff Pangle officiating. Mr. Barfield will be laid to rest at Tift Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends on Saturday, December 10, 2022, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Joseph Goff, C.J. Goff, Michael Head, Lon Barfield, Jerry Hendley and Johnathon Dillard will serve as pallbearers.
Born January 31, 1934, in Holt, Mr. Barfield was the son of the late Ruel Elijah Barfield and Roxie Harper Barfield. He was also preceded in death by his siblings, R. L. Barfield, Hollis Barfield, Charles Barfield, Mildred Barfield, and Betty Jean Howell. He was a member of Waterloo Baptist Church.
Always a hard worker, he was the owner of South Georgia Sod and Landscape.
His attention to detail and work ethic began at the young age of nine when he held three jobs at once, two of those being delivering newspapers, and groceries from the Busy Corner on his bicycle.
He was proud of his children’s and grandchildren’s accomplishments. He was always first to visit family, loved to tell stories and jokes, and to help in any way he could. Even a stranger could benefit from his generosity.
An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed many days of retirement sitting in the yard with his wife Carolyn watching and feeding birds or sorting through old coins for just the right one. If you fixed chicken and rice, or macaroni and cheese, or rice and gravy, and biscuits with cane syrup, he was first to the table.
Mr. Barfield is survived by his wife of 46 years, Carolyn Hurt Barfield of Tifton; his children, Denise Barfield Goff of Gainesville, Rhonda Barfield Webb (Lloyd) of Austell, Debbie Head (David) of Newnan and Gerry Barfield (Shanna) of Nashville; eleven grandchildren, Joseph Daniel Goff, Jessica Webb Sibley, Jennifer Webb Cobb, Carolyn Denise Cummings, Michael David Head, Steven Andrew Head, Rebecca Diane Rakestraw, Christine Elizabeth Head, Gracie Leigh Barfield, Savannah Claire Barfield, and Tucker Barfield; nineteen great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and his bonus family, Johnathon, Anna, and WD Dillard.
We want to send a special thank you to Dr. Lewis and her nursing staff who helped our transition over the last several days.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to Waterloo Baptist Church, 124 Waterloo Church Lane, Chula, GA 31733.