Mr. Edgar Barcliff Jr.

Edgar (Ed) Winfield Barcliff Jr., beloved husband father grandfather brother uncle cousin and friend was called home on March 16, 2022. Ed was born in Newark, New Jersey on July 30, 1944, to Edgar Sr. and Helen. He was the oldest of their three children and had two sisters, Sandra (deceased) and Diane.

He was baptized at an early age at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Newark where he was an active member for many years. A product of the Newark Public School system, Edgar attended Arts High School and graduated from Central Evening High School. He married Malcinia (former spouse) in 1966, and from that union they bore three children Lori, Todd and Nicole.

Ed worked various jobs before beginning a long and accomplished career in New Jersey as a Correction Officer at the Essex County Jail in Newark in 1970. In 1986 he became the first Correction Officer in Essex County to receive the Officer of the Year Award and was the first Correction Officer in the State of New Jersey to receive national recognition and be ranked as one of the top five Correction Officers in the nation. In 1990, Ed completed a basic training course for Investigators at the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice Academy and was appointed to the Internal Affairs Bureau as an Investigator. In 1996 he was promoted to Sergeant and became a Supervisor in the Internal Affairs division at the same Jail where he began his career. He was active in Newark’s West Ward Civic Organization and received numerous awards and commendations from Federal, State, County and Municipal Agencies for his professional and community contributions. He retired in 2002 after more than 31 years of service and remained very active in several local and national law enforcement organizations, most notably the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation (CPOF) where he served as National Director and Vice Chairman.

Ed leaves behind his wife Arvelia (Al) Bowie of Frisco, Texas. Ed and Al were married on December 26, 2012. Edgar and Al were introduced to each by a mutual friend; after meeting they knew they would always be together (rain or shine, in sickness or health).

Ed is also survived by his children, Wanda (Darryl), Lori (Fernando), Todd, and Nicole; sister Diane; grandchildren; Amber, Kyle, Sebastian and Katherine, great-grandson Quincy and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Ed will be sorely missed by his family, many great friends and professional associates.

A Celebration of Ed’s life will be held on March 24, 2022, at 11:00 AM at The Potter’s House of Dallas, located at 6777 West Kiest Boulevard.