OCTOBER 4 – Henry Lee Barksdale Sr., formerly of Drakes Branch, of The Woodlands in Farmville, died peacefully on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at the age of 102. He was a native of Charlotte County, where he was born on June 15, 1910, the second son of William Henry Barksdale and Sarah Anne Collins Barksdale.

Mr. Barksdale 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 a trustee. He also represented the church in the foreign mission field going to Honduras three times to assist in the construction of churches there.

He 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.

Mr. Barksdale served eight years as member of the Drakes Branch Town Council. His construction background and common sense were a valuable asset to the council. He worked as a superintendent on many construction projects throughout the eastern United States. He supervised the laying of 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 Virginia.

He was always adaptable to new circumstances and had adjusted to life at Brookview Lodge. 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.

Survivors include his wife, Anne Bailey Barksdale of Farmville; son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lee Barksdale Jr. of Greensboro, NC; grandchildren, Holland Barksdale Ferguson and husband, Ian of Charlotte, NC and Henry Lee Barksdale III and wife, Megan of Greensboro, NC; great-grandchildren, Baity and Henley Barksdale; step-children and spouses, Beth and Mark Mahoney of Kingsport, TN and Charles and Karen Napier of Hampton; and step-grandson, Chris Mahoney of Nashville, TN. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Alice Locke Barksdale, brothers, William and Overton Barksdale, sister, Mary Barksdale Weatherford, and half-sister, Ruby Walker.

A graveside service was held Thursday, October 4 in the Drakes Branch Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Drakes Branch.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.

The Browning-Duffer Funeral Home, Keysville, was in charge of arrangements.