John Mills Barksdale

John Mills Barksdale of Red House, Va. passed Wednesday, August 04, 2010 at home. He was born during the depression on February 22, 1929 in Raleigh, NC to Stith Dudley Barksdale, Jr. who died when John Mills was 12 years old and Pauline McPhail Barksdale. He was youngest of five children: Nancy Barksdale Scofield husband James, Donald McPhail Barksdale wife Mary Ellen, Stith Dudley Barksdale Libby, Richard Marshall Barksdale Almeyda, and John Mills Barksdale Mary. He spent many happy years on Mulberry Hill Plantation in Randolph, Va., was president of his senior class and played football at Randolph Henry High School.
John Mills was drafted into the US Navy during the Korean War, serving four years on the Destroyer USS Allen M. Sumner. During his service he circumnavigated the globe, passing around the Rock of Gibraltar and through both the Suez and Panama Canals, providing assistance to downed airmen off the coast of Korea.
After marrying his high school sweetheart Mary Bennett Barksdale, in 1952 while she was a student at Longwood College, the couple lived briefly in Boston, Ma. Following his discharge from the US Navy they moved back home to Red House, Charlotte County, Va. in 1956.
Early in his 40+ year career as a dairy farmer John Mills was named area Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year. He served on the Board of Directors of the Colonial Farm Credit Union, was an active member of the Ruritan Club and a member of the American Legion. Mr. Barksdale was a member of Providence Baptist Church and since 1963 served as Chairperson of the Cemetery Committee.
He is survived by three sons: John Dudley Barksdale and wife Liz of Lynchburg, Va., Steven Earl Barksdale and wife Beth of Lancaster, Va., Bruce Bennett Barksdale and wife Connie of Red House, Va., grandsons Steven Tyler and Trevor McPhail and granddaughters Kelsie Nicole and Morgan Bennett Barksdale. He is also survived by his three brothers and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, August 7 at 2:00 PM in Providence Baptist Church, Red House, Va.. The Browning-Duffer Funeral Home in Keysville, Va. is in charge of the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Providence Baptist Cemetery Endowment Fund P.O. Box 116, Red House, Va. 23963.