Larry A. Barrett, age 74 of Columbia, MS passed away on Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at his home in the Goss community. He was born January 30, 1944 to John Clifton Barrett, Sr. and Nita Floyd Barrett, both of whom have preceded him in death. A native of Foxworth, MS, Larry founded “Barrett’s Garden Center” in 1977 on High School Avenue in Columbia. His high standard of offering quality plants and landscaping supplies enabled him to enlarge his business. He and his wife Gloria soon moved the business to its current location on Old Highway 98 East. He developed his own formula for potting soil and desire to market high-quality plant products gained him wide-spread notoriety among his customers as well as his colleagues in both the retail and wholesale nursery industry. Larry served on the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Nurserymen’s Association, a chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects and was elected as president of the association by a panel of 480 members.
Larry was also an avid hunter, marksmen, and fisherman. He particularly loved to take safari hunting trips to Africa and has several exotic trophies as a result of his trips. Larry also enjoyed spending time with loved ones, particularly his two grandchildren and was a member of Goss Baptist Church.
Larry is survived by his wife of 39 years, Gloria Barrett; his daughter, Perry Ann Barrett-Byler; two brothers, John Barrett, and his wife Beverly, of Tylertown, MS, and Louis Barrett, and his wife Linda, of St. Bernard, LA; two grandchildren, Zoe Byler, and Gabriel Byler; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Friday, May 4, 2018 from 5:00pm until 8:00pm at Colonial Funeral Home in Columbia. Funeral services will be on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at 1:00pm at the funeral home with visitation with family from 11:00am until service time. Reverend Ralph Sanford and Reverend Mark McArthur will officiate at the service and interment will be at Foxworth Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Chris Barrett, Todd Barrett, Caleb Barrett, Darryl Ryals, Joe Willoughby, Mike Moree, Brandon Parrett, and Steve Ballew. Honorary pallbearers will be all of Larry’s former employees.
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