Henry Lee Barksdale Sr.

Henry Lee Barksdale, Sr., formerly of Drakes Branch, VA, was living at The Woodlands in Farmville, died peacefully on October 2, 2012 at the age of 102.
Henry was a native of Charlotte County, VA, where he was born on June 15, 1910, the second son of William Henry Barksdale and Sarah Anne Collins Barksdale. Henry was a faithful and loyal member of the Drakes Branch Baptist Church. He was a valued church leader throughout his life serving as Deacon and Chairman of the Deacon board and Trustee. He also represented the church in the foreign mission field going to Honduras three times to assist in the construction of churches there. Henry was a member of the church choir as well as the Brookview Lodge choir. He enjoyed music and had played the mandolin and guitar earlier in life. He enjoyed his association with the adult men’s Sunday school class most of all. Henry served eight years as member of the Drakes Branch town council. His construction background and common sense were a valuable asset to the council. Henry worked as a superintendent on many construction projects throughout the eastern United States. He supervised the laying on many miles of railroad tracks. Other projects included the Tuckertown Hydroelectric Dam forming High Rock Lake in North Carolina, locks on the St. Lawrence Seaway in New York, and dry docks at the Newport News Shipyard in VA. Henry was always adaptable to new circumstances and had adjusted to life at Brookview Lodge in Farmville. He made many new friends there and had become a valuable part of the community. He was a gifted craftsman making hand woven baskets to give generously to friends and family as well as for fundraising at Brookview. Henry Barksdale was preceded in death by his first wife, Alice Locke Barksdale; his brothers, William and Overton Barksdale; his sister, Mary Barksdale Weatherford; and his half sister, Ruby Walker. Survivors include his wife, Anne Bailey Barksdale of Farmville; his son and daughter-in-law, Mr. & Mrs. Henry Lee Barksdale Jr., of Greensboro, NC; his grandchildren, Holland Barksdale Ferguson and husband, Ian of Charlotte, NC, and Henry Lee Barksdale III and wife, Megan of Greensboro, NC; his great-grandchildren, Baity and Henley Barksdale; his step-children and spouses, Beth and Mark Mahoney of Kingsport, Tenn., Charles and Karen Napier of Hampton, VA, and step-grandson, Chris Mahoney of Nashville, Tenn.
A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, October 4, 2012, in the Drakes Branch Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Drakes Branch, VA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association
The Browning-Duffer Funeral Home in Keysville, VA, is in charge of arrangements.