Daniel F. “Don” Barber, Jr., 88, of Sumter, husband of Lucy Allen Barber, died Monday, October 7, 2024, at Prisma Health Tuomey.
Born March 25, 1936, in Mullins, he was a son of the late Daniel F. Barber, Sr. and the late Mildred Knight Barber. He was a member of Sumter First Baptist Church. Mr. Barber was a graduate of The Citadel Class of 1958 and served as a Naval Aviator in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Following his service, he taught math at Edmunds High School, served seventeen years as principal of Willow Drive Elementary School, and seventeen years as Director of Instruction retiring from Sumter School District Seventeen after thirty-seven years of service. He was an avid tennis player.
Mr. Barber was a faithful servant of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and dedicated his life to making disciples as he led numerous Bible study groups and ministries in the community. He served as Chaplain of the Sumter Fire Department for more than fifty years, Gideons International-Sumter Camp for sixty years, the Sumter Jail Ministry, and taught a Sunday School Class at Harmony Church where he served for forty years. He was also on the Ambassador Camp Board at Lake Waccamaw, NC for more than fifty years and participated in numerous mission trips around the world.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Three Children, Donna Crane, Dan Barber (Laura), and Deanna Nalley (Robbie); twelve grandchildren; and five great grandsons.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Gene Barber, and son-in-law, Dr. Jeff Crane.
Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at Sumter First Baptist Church officiated by the Rev. Dr. Dan Barber. Burial with military honors will be in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Daniel Barber, Walker Barber, Austin Crane, David Crane, Nathan Crane, and Alex Richards.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Sumter Fire Department.
The family will receive friends from 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday in the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall and other times at the home of Dan and Laura Barber, 409 Haynsworth Street.
Memorials may be sent to the First Baptist Church Missions Fund, 107 E. Liberty Street, Sumter, SC 29150.