George Barney Poole

Poole, George Barney George Barney Poole of Gloster, Miss., died of pneumonia on Tuesday, April 12, 2005, at Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, surrounded by family and friends. Barney was a native of Gloster and attended Crosby High School. Because of wartime policies, he went on to play eight years of college football at the University of Mississippi, the University of North Carolina and Army. He was All-American for four years, with honorable mention a fifth year. Among numerous honors, he was inducted into the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame in 1965, the Helms Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame in 1966, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1965 and the Ole Miss Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987. Barney remained in football his entire career, coaching briefly at LSU and the University of Alabama before moving to the high school ranks, taking Laurel High School to the state championship in 1961. He later coached at USM and completed his career as manager of the Mississippi Memorial Stadium. Upon retirement, he returned with his wife, Martha, to their hometown of Gloster, where he was an active part of the community and Gloster United Methodist Church. He started each morning at the Gloster Coffee Club (which was the only time in his life where "winning" was bad – it meant you had to pay). He often spent many afternoon hours at Pine Hills Country Club playing golf with his buddies and telling "tall tales." Barney was proud of his children's and grandchildren's accomplishments and watched more than his share of softball, basketball, soccer, tennis and swimming. He didn't have any "All American football-playing grandsons," but he was just as proud of his daughters and granddaughters. He is survived by his wife, Martha, who resides at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland, Miss.; daughters, Janet Youngblood of Tulsa, Okla., and Jodie McGehee and her husband, Ronnie McGehee, of Madison, Miss.; three granddaughters, Sarah Elizabeth Youngblood and Hannah Lauren Youngblood, both of Tulsa, and Jessica Faye McGehee of Madison, Miss.; a sister, Willodene Robertson of Berwick, Miss.; a brother, Ray Poole of Oxford, Miss.; and a host of nieces and nephews. He was a remarkable man, a talented athlete, a leader and a "gentle giant" loved by many. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and everyone's "Uncle Barney." In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Hospice Ministries, 450 Towncenter Blvd., Ridgeland, MS 39157. The hospice is lovingly caring for his "bride" of 56 years. Visitation will be on Thursday, April 14, from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home chapel, Gloster, and on Friday, April 15, from 9 a.m. until religious service at 11 a.m. Interment in Roseland Cemetery, Gloster.