The Rev. Dr. James Madison Barr III

The Rev. Dr. James Madison Barr III, 90, died June 10, 2009 at home. He attended Fork Union Military Academy and University of Virginia, where he earned a law degree. He taught at UVA’s School of Economics and Commerce. He worked as an attorney, accountant, and auditor. Jim served on the Charlottesville, VA city council and as president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce there. An active member of Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Universalist Church in Charlottesville, he entered Starr King and served churches in MA, NY, and TN. He was instrumental in building the Memphis church —“The Church of the River.” The church named him minister emeritus for his 20 years of service. In his retirement, he was a member of UU Village Church (Hot Springs Village, AK), where he also preached. He served in the Southwest District as Settlement Representative, Good Offices Representative, as member of the SWD Board of Directors, and as Chair of the Summer Institute. His community activities in Memphis included board service for Tenn-Ark-Miss Council of the Girl Scouts, Urban League, and the Heart Association. He was a member of the Memphis Community Relations Commission. He is survived by three daughters, their spouses, four grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his third wife, “Maggie.”