Erle Edwards Barham

1937 - 2014

Erle Edwards Barham

Funeral services for Erle Edwards Barham, 77, are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Oak Ridge, Louisiana, with the Reverend Whit Stodghill officiating. Burial will follow at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer cemetery under the direction of Cox Funeral Home. A visitation will be held at 1:00 p.m. prior to the funeral service at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer.

Edwards was a businessman, certified flight instructor and farmer. For many years, he dedicated his service to improve Louisiana education generally and higher education particularly. He was the only member of a higher education board who served on the Board of Regents, the Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana System and the Board of Supervisors of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System holding the chairmanship of each of those boards. He also honorably served in the Louisiana State Senate from 1976 through 1980, and in that role worked to ensure a higher quality of life for all citizens of our state.

Erle Edwards Barham, born July 10, 1937, was the oldest son of the late Erle McKoin Barham and Rosalie Smith Barham. He was a lifelong resident of his beloved Oak Ridge. He graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 1955, and attended L.S.U. where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. After earning his bachelor's degree, he farmed in both Louisiana and Mississippi. He and his wife of 56 years, Bennie Faye, raised three sons and one daughter. He was a member of the Louisiana Cotton Producers Association, the Northeast Louisiana Rice Growers Association, a mason and past master of the Brookville Masonic Lodge #161, and the Executive Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana. He was a former member of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Oak Ridge, former member of the Board of Commissioners of the Morehouse General Hospital, past president of the Morehouse Parish Farm Bureau, past member and president of the Oak Ridge Lions Club, and treasurer of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer. In addition to his public service, he acquired a graduate degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Edwards was admired and loved by all who knew him and will be remembered as a giving person, always serving others. He knew the importance of tradition and was a gifted story teller, historian, and true southern gentleman.

He is survived by his wife, Bennie Berry Barham, and four children: Ben Edwards Barham II and wife Bonnie Dry Barham, Erle West Barham and wife Trudy Bridges Barham, Robert Berry Barham and wife Camille Robichaux Barham, and Amy Barham Westbrook and husband Scott Hamilton Westbrook. His grandchildren are Stacy Barham Walker, Lydia Barham Acey, Laten Edwards Barham, Nathaniel West Barham, Graham Edwards Barham, Bailey Anne McKoin Barham, Robert Collier Barham, Margaret Benjamin Westbrook, and Anna Claire Swearingen Westbrook. His great grandchildren are Logan Aaron Edwards Hodges, Arrielee Elizabeth Acey, Lilly Grace Rosalie Acey, Etta Elise Acey, Peyton Allen Walker, and Rebecca Laura Ellen Walker. His brothers are Thomas West Barham and Robert Jocelyn Barham. He had many loved nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons and great grandsons, Laten Barham, Nathan Barham, Graham Barham, Collier Barham, Logan Hodges, and Peyton Walker.

Honorary pallbearers will be Connie Mott, Andy Barham, Billy Davenport, Vic Jordan, Jim Brown, and Tommy Rolfe.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Oak Ridge, LA. 71264 or a charity of the donor's choice.

Cox Funeral Home

Bastrop, Louisiana

www.coxfuneral.com