Leigh Ann and family, Tennye, Paige, this news is a shock, and I am so deeply sorry for your loss. And you know what? I have no doubt that Barclay is eating up all this love. From the time I met him, lo those many years ago at the Memphis Zoo, in ZAP, I knew he was one of a kind, mold broken, irreplacceable. Oh, the stories! The zoo, the Army,  the fireworks stand (my folks helped resupply his wardrobe after that!), Playhouse on the Square, the Royal Lichtenstein Quarter-Ring Sidewalk Circus... I was there for some of those, and a close spectator for others. He was the only Memphis friend who came to my bridal shower and that sums up everything about him for me: he was there. I'm so glad you were there for him. 
Goodbye, Barclay. Remember: forward, never straight.

The UnOfficial Truth. Excerpts shared at Barclay's Celebration of Life by "The Outlaws," Beth Reisedge and Tina Reisedge. Part III.

“As a disclaimer, let me say that this is all in fun.  I never intend to offend anyone.  If I do, let me know and I will quickly give you a whole-hearted apology. And a hug of friendship.”
 
“I like to count.  I am one of those irritating guys that say things like, “Wow! That’s the sixth red Volkswagen Bug that I’ve seen today.” Or, “Geez, that’s odd…Yesterday the walk from the car was 52 steps and today it was 57 steps.” I know it’s a bit weird, but I am a bit weird.  Get used to it…  My lovely bride and I were married in the Rose Garden at the Goldsmith Civic Gardens. And when I turned around to watch her, she was just starting from the corner of the garden. It took her exactly 134 steps to reach our parents, the pastor, and me.  I suppose that in my last days of life, it will look much like a scene from Citizen Kane, but instead of saying, “Rosebud,” I will be mumbling numbers to myself.  So, remember that I told you about it now, before I become a rich and famous author. It could come in handy at the reading of the will.”

The UnOfficial Truth. Excerpts shared at Barclay's Celebration of Life by "The Outlaws," Beth Reisedge and Tina Reisedge. Part II.

 “I love my life.  I have always considered myself a lucky guy.  I slid through my teen years without becoming addicted to cigarettes, alcohol, drugs or anything else for that matter.  And in my thirties, I found my soulmate.  Through the years I was also lucky in my choices in employment.  I traveled with a circus for a while (that was cool). I worked for the mouse at Disney World in Florida for a couple of years (oh, yeah, that was cool). I spent a very short stay in the Army (scary!). And I have traveled to almost all my favorite places, and always somehow found a job to pay the bills while I enjoyed my stay.  But my luckiest job of all has got to be Manpower.  I came to Manpower with a desire to learn something new and with very few real skills. Well, after fifteen years, three classes, and a half dozen computer tutorials, I still can’t type…but I have picked up a few other talents, ideas and one really important thing…My Bride.”
 
“I remember being very small, maybe 4 or 5 years old, and I asked Mama if I could have a twin brother. Well, she didn’t say NO. What she did say was that “someday there would be others in my life that I could share my good days and bad days with.  Others that would show their true self and hopefully see me for who I am and all that I can be.” I know what you’re thinking…pretty deep for a 5-year-old.  OK, maybe she didn’t exactly say it that way. But that’s what I got out of it. And in very many ways, she was absolutely right.  During my years, I made friendships that have influenced the decisions that I have made and will make throughout my life.  Most of those people were older than me. And I know that the lessons I picked up will carry me through my life.”

The UnOfficial Truth. Excerpts shared at Barclay's Celebration of Life by "The Outlaws," Beth Reisedge and Tina Reisedge.  Part I.

“When I first proposed to Leigh Ann, each of us thought that the most difficult hurdle to jump would be getting along with each other’s family.  You know how it is…everyone thinks that their family is different. And everyone is usually right.  But that’s part of what makes marriage so wonderful.  Honing your attitude skills. And in the beginning of a new relationship, every family outing can feel like a test.  Will they like me? Will they paint your nails when you fall asleep on the couch? (That’s another story.) You know that your family will love and accept your new better half, but most of all, will your new family love and accept you as part of the family?”
 
“I got a fair share of comments about the last issue of my newsletter.  It seems that a few people thought I may have gone a little overboard with stories about my lovely bride.  I have only one comment.  Where is YOUR newsletter?”

To have Barclay in your life was to have more “other than average experiences” than you can hope to count.  My husband Charles & I were early for rehearsal for the fall musical at Theatre Memphis & having a picnic supper on the lawn. Up roars a motorcycle with someone wearing a leather jacket & helmet, he climbs off the bike, takes off the helmet, pulls out a La Baguette bag & says “Hi, I’m Barclay, what’s for supper?” Thus begins the tale. There’s a story about the 100 lb roll of paper which Charles helped him schlepp every time he moved. Up & down the stairs, in the truck, out of the truck. Barclay always said, “never have more than you can move in a cab”!   LeighAnn, is that roll of paper still at your house?  Barclay had a good friend that happened to be black.  This friend would often stay overnight with Barclay & the landlord was less than pleased, so much so he cordially asked Barclay to leave.  Here we go again with schlepping the 100 lb roll of paper down the stairs, into the truck, you know the rest.  After we cleared out & cleaned up, Barclay said he had a little present for the landlord.  Some Limburger cheese! He unwrapped the cheese & carefully placed it under the water heater then exited the building. When our daughter’s husband was transferred from FedEx Memphis to FedEx Alaska they had to leave before their house sold.  Barclay offered to rent the house until it sold.  The house was on the corner of Princeton & Holmes.  On his second day there, he was burglarized, twice, in one day.  He was home when the second guy tried climbing through the window. Barclay called Charles, Charles went over, shotgun in hand & spent the night.  The next two days were spent finding a new place to live, moving & schlepping…you know the rest. I will close with our favorite Barclay story.  He asked LeighAnn to marry him & she said yes.  He asked Charles to be his best man & he  said yes. It was a lovely wedding & yes, there was one more schlepping of the 100 lb....

The night I met Barclay, he saved me from a bully picking a fight with me, calling me an ugly name and ready to throw punches. 

At a simple house party, this guy I didn't know decided to pick on me and Barclay stepped in, defused it and took me away. We left and went out for milkshakes. 

Then he taught me how to deal with bullies, and how and when to fight back. After that, we were both hooked, I was lost and needed guidance, he was happy to help. He was always happy to help, everyone, all the time. He taught me the same thing. 

He taught me to laugh things off. He taught me to stand up. We dressed up as clowns and made balloon animals for kids in the hospital. We wore animal costumes and passed out candy at senior homes. He taught me to do good things and give back to the people that need love. We spent years together, spreading joy, laughter and love to all sorts of people. 

All the while, he loved me. My broken home and my awful teen experience meant I needed someone to help me through it. 

He was there for me every day. 

He helped make me the man I am today. I will never forget all he taught me and still use all he taught me every day. 

Every time I make a balloon animal for a kid who asks for a frog, I'll laugh and think of him, because it will always look like a dog.

My condolences on the passing of Barclay. 

My first contact with Barclay was a letter sent to me in response to a Help Wanted ad for a Receptionist. The letter was hand-written and in it Barclay admitted that he had no relevant prior experience for the position. However, he offered a Money-Back Guarantee; if we were not happy with his work after a 30-day trial, he would refund his salary. 

Obviously, Barclay got the job and did not need to provide a refund. In the subsequent years at Manpower, Barclay’s creative and artistic efforts were felt throughout the organization and were an important contributor to our success. 

We are grateful that we had the opportunity to know and work with him. 

Maury and Elaine Radin

There most likely is not a former Manpower employee who is not familiar with the name Mitchell Fromstein.  Mr. Fromstein was CEO and President of Manpower, Inc. from 1976 to 1999 (23 years).  Under his leadership, Manpower, Inc. grew from a US-based $300 million business to a more than $10 billion global industry giant. To say the least, all Manpower employees were impressed with this man. There just weren't any opportunities for our Memphis employees to even get a glance of this very powerful man as he was located at our corporate offices in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  

Needless to say, the day that I got word that Mr. Fromstein would be visiting our Memphis computer training center the very next day, I went into panic mode, informing all our employees and hustling them to clean up their workspace, etc.  Then came the dreaded move, I had to approach our non-conformist front desk icon, Barclay.  On this particular day, Barclay managed to be dressed in the wildest, most colorful shirt he could have ever chosen. Not a shirt in which to greet the powerful President of Manpower. Sucking in my breath, I asked Barclay to consider wearing a white shirt and tie for Mr. Fromstein's visit the next day.  Well, you know what happened. I got a good lesson on how Barclay didn't dress for other people and especially for someone who would just be coming into the office this once. One might say that I received one of many of my Barclay "ream" jobs! 

Now fast forward to the next day. Barclay surprised me and was so very handsome sitting at his desk in a very bright, well-pressed white shirt and tie.  He looked so handsome. No doubt he knew all that time that he'd do that for me.  

Now for the clencher:  Mr. Fromstein chose to drop by our offices while Barclay was out to lunch with some of his coworkers. He never let me live that one down! 

Martha Barta

From Robert “BlindDog” Cook: 

BlindDog isn’t here because blind guys are terrible drivers. 

Hey everybody, are we having fun yet? That seems like a terrible question today, but it really isn’t.  Over the years, I have attended a lot of funerals with Barclay, and he never failed to make me laugh through the entire thing. That’s just what he did. I have to tell you, he really killed it at my mom’s burial.  Thanks, Barcmeister! 

Barclay and I had been friends for years, and then, in the spring of ’91, I left Memphis to live in a small town in East Texas, where I thought I would never work or be around normal people again.  Then on Christmas morning, he just shows up announced at my door, with barbecue from Corky’s, some really amazing pies from the Arcade Restaurant, and a dish of something that vaguely resembled lasagna from the P&H Café.  It meant the world to me. 

That’s the Barclay that I want all of us to remember.  The guy who went out of his way to do something that he knew you would appreciate, no matter how small or large. 

There is a line in the movie, The Big Chill, where a woman says, “Wow, look at this spread.  You’ll never get this many people at my funeral.” Someone answers, “Oh, don’t worry, Karen. I’ll come and I’ll bring a date.” 

So, I hope today finds you sitting beside someone you love.  Before you leave, turn around and tell them.  You never know when it’s late in the day. 

Barclay, I love you man! 

BlindDog out.

I joined the Memphis Manpower staff family in December 1986, and met Barclay.  His friendly smile and greeting on my first "official" day of work was very sincere.  He reminded me that I had joined a family owned business, and that we were now "family".  Little did I know how right he was,  and that  I truly gained mentors, brothers, sisters, and friends, who helped me then, and even now,  become the person I am today.

Barclay had a heart of gold and was always willing to do anything for anyone to make them feel special.  

During my 10 years there, I have many good memories of Barclay, but one of my favorite memories is a cake he baked for me!   I trained for and completed my first Triathlon, which was the Mighty Might Triathlon in Forrest City, Arkansas.  It was on a Saturday, and that following Monday when I arrived at work, there was a cake in the breakroom in the shape of the Olympic Rings that read "Congratulations to our Little Olympian" !!!  I just about cried knowing that he hand made and baked that cake especially for me, in honor of me completing my first Triathlon!  It was a true act of kindness just like a "family member" would do for one another.

I am a better person for having known him, and he will be missed by many.

Marguerite Joyner Parker
Destin, Florida
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I'll never forget you tricking me to dress up like Janet at the Rocky Horror Show and you never forgot me sunbathing on the roof because you reminded me  for 40 yrs  . You laughter and charm was amazing. I remember your 20 plus years next door. Keep shining!! Prayers for all of your family.

Barclay was a great friend of my wife when they worked together at Manpower and after she left there to move to Nashville. I'll never forget him going out of his way to help me in a difficult time three years ago. His wonderful personality and friendship will be greatly missed.

First, I would like to extend my warmest condolences to LeighAnn and the Frazier family.  Though I'm absent, I have to say what is on my heart for a person that shaped the very man I am today.  As I write this, I am so saddened by grief and hurt, it's hard to even put it all into words.  I remember being an 11/12 year old boy, dealing with confusion about who I was and meeting this spunky, charismatic, chunky, vibrant man.  He was not what I was expecting , lol!  When I became a part of his life, we both were met with a lot of adversities with him being a white man with this little black boy.  From stares to whispers to one time someone thinking he was trying to kidnap me (that's a crazy story for another time)!  He showed me a lot of what this world truly was about at a young age, from giving me my very first computer and introducing me to the internet to taking me camping for the very first time.  He not only reassured me but encouraged me to love myself and be an overall good person.  I can recall the moment the Big Brother/Big Sister program separated us, being one of the worst times of my life, not only losing a mentor and positive influence but a friend.   I continued to carry him with me througout my life and everything he instilled in me.  I am crying writing this message because, even as a kid, I expressed to him often, because I couldn't express to anyone else, my aspirations to be an artist and designer.   From there, I got my very first sketch book and now I'm living my dream.  I will carry the knowledge and love he gave to me,  for the rest of my life.  Barclay, I want to say, I'm doing it, everything we spoke about, I'm doing it.  It's always my mission to be a great person and to pass on the love and guidance to anyone that comes my way, just the way you did to me.  This is not a good-bye but merely a see you later.  I love you and I will always love you.  LeighAnn, my heart is with you and I will always be around to do any and everything I can.

I’m so sad that I am out of town until Aug. 2 and will miss Barclay’s Celebration of Life.  I’d so love to see you, Leigh Ann, as well as all my other Manpower friends.  
   I remember Barclay as such a happy, witty man; always with an instant smile. He made me feel good when I saw him.  From all the pictures, it seems that’s exactly how he lived his life to the end. 
    Having lost my son recently, I understand the meaning of having support and love from your friends and family. Leigh Ann, I hope you can feel all the love from the many, many people who loved Barclay and will be grieving along with you. You and all the family and friends will be in my prayers as you find your way through this process. May God Bless You All and hold wrap His arms around you.

Deepest condolences for your profound loss. I regret that I will be out of town next week and will be unable to pay my proper respects. Much love, Ellen

OBITUARY

Barclay Clifton Frazier

September 11, 1962 – July 23, 2025

Memphis Funeral Home

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