Raymond Wesley Barber

He was born on August 12, 1932, in Danville, Virginia, to Rev. Robert J. Barber and Maggie Star Barber. Dr. Barber was a graduate of Texas Wesleyan University and Bible Baptist Seminary. He held honorary doctorates from several institutions.

He served in several churches before becoming pastor at Worth Baptist Church in 1962. Under Dr. Barber's leadership, the congregation grew rapidly, requiring the purchase of property for a new church building. He led the church in three building programs, including the present facility at 4900 Campus Drive.

Dr. Barber also taught for over thirty-five years at the Bible Baptist Seminary and the Norris Bible Baptist Seminary. In 1984 he founded the Independent Baptist Fellowship International and the Norris Bible Baptist Seminary. He served as President of both institutions for twelve years. After his retirement in 1997, he served as President Emeritus of the IBFI and NBBS and Pastor Emeritus of Worth Baptist Church.

He was an internationally known preacher who spoke at numerous Bible conferences, colleges, and special meetings and authored over twenty-six books and booklets.

He was preceded in death by his father, Rev. Robert J. Barber; his mother, Maggie Star Barber; his stepmother, Helen Vaughn Barber; and seven brothers and sisters.

He is survived by his devoted wife of seventy-four years, Mary Helen Barber, and his brother, Dr. Doug Barber, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, at Worth Baptist Church. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 9, at Worth Baptist Church. Burial will be at Laurel Land Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the church from 5 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday and 9 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday.

Dr. Raymond W. Barber’s life verse was Galatians 6:14: “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world.”