Home Going of Beryl Barkman

Michael E. Wood

August 30, 2012

While words seem to be such a small thing to give expression to the desire to encourage and comfort, the following words came to mind concerning the Home Going of Beryl Barkman; the father of my friend and former Pastor, Gregory N. Barkman.

Our loss is felt for certain.

A jewel from the crown,

Of Christ our King is home with Him,

With weapons now laid down,

Of warfare well accomplished

Through many a faithful year,

Whose works shall follow in the train

Of Him we hold so dear.

And though we sorrow briefly,

Tis not without this hope,

That God Himself will manifest

The glory of the scope

Of Christ whose perfect presence

Is the glory and reward

Of all who look to Him by faith

Through Calvary, adored!

What joy so inexpressible

Must fill now Beryl’s gaze,

With sinless satisfaction of

The One to whom all praise

Fills the perfect splendor of

That Glorious Promise Land,

While awaiting coronation of

Our King, by Whom we stand.

Holy Spirit fill with comfort

While we too await the time

That the glory of our Savior’s

Resurrection so sublime

Will be seen in all its fullness

As all sorrow, sin, and pain

Shall give way to our Almighty God

Whose cross has brought our gain!

Article below published in TheTimesNews.com from September 1 to September 2, 2012

Beryl V. Barkman, age 95, of 2045 Shirley Dr., Burlington, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, August 30, 2012 at UNC Memorial Hospital, Chapel Hill.

A native of LaMoille, Illinois, he was the son of the late Lester and Celia Mae Splain Barkman and husband for 69 and a half years of Mary Frances Norris Barkman who survives.

Beryl, born on an Illinois farm in 1917, has found his way from a one room schoolhouse to heavenly mansions. On his path home, his trail lead to a degree from Monmouth College, Illinois, through heroic and decorated service during WW II in the US Navy as the gunnery officer on a destroyer, to an MBA from the University of Chicago, on to two graduate degrees from Bob Jones University and then a PhD from the University of South Carolina. Along the way, both in the United States and abroad, he taught college, university, Bible Institute and Sunday School classes too numerous to list.

He finally retired at the age of 85 as Associate Professor of Accounting and Finance from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. Finding the pace of life a little dull upon such retirement, he filled his remaining days as a member, deacon, usher and Sunday School teacher at Beacon Baptist Church, delivering Meals on Wheels in Burlington and tending to his home and yard.

Words cannot express the deep sorrow of his wife and family in losing him from this life. Nevertheless, they rejoice in the certain knowledge that to be with Christ is far better while remembering him as he was here, echoing the words of the English poet, William Wordsworth: "That best portion of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love."

Survivors include his wife, Mary Frances Norris Barkman of the home; sons, Gregory Norris Barkman and wife Marti of Hawfields, NC and Jonathan David Barkman of Easley, SC; daughter, Nancy Sue Rights and husband Michael of Brewster, NY; grandchildren, Jordana B. Duncan and husband Gabriel, Cherith B. Newton and husband Eric, Bethany B. Allgrove and husband Warren, Jessica B. Yelverton and husband Joel, David Barkman, Andrew Barkman and Elizabeth Rights; and 4 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012, at Beacon Baptist Church with Rev. Greg Barkman and Rev. Gerald Counts officiating. Interment will follow in Alamance

Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to Alamance Rescue Mission; 1519 N. Mebane St., Burlington, NC 27217.