Milton Ralph Barrett, Sr.

Milton Ralph Barrett, Sr., 97, of Little Rock, went to be with his Lord on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at Countryside Assisted Living in Hamburg. Born on Jan. 1, 1925, to Nina Grace Burden Barrett and Homer Dale Barrett of Little Rock. Mr. Barrett was the eldest of three sons. He was a true southern gentleman, always putting others before himself, and a true patriot of the red, white, and blue. Mr. Barrett's salvation at ten years of age was the beginning of his active service for the Lord Jesus. His first church membership was The First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church founded by his maternal grandparents, great-uncles and great- aunts. Mr. Barrett felt himself privileged to serve as deacon in four churches, two were Presbyterian churches, as well as First Baptist Church of Pine Bluff and Immanuel Baptist in Little Rock. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Hamburg during the last few years of his life. Mr. Barrett treated everyone he met with respect and kindness as his raising was based around the teachings of Jesus Christ. He attributed any successes he experienced in life to the guidance and blessings of Almighty God. Mr. Barrett was raised during the Great Depression years, learning to conserve, work hard, and take responsibilities seriously. Besides helping to babysit his two younger brothers, he milked the goats, fed the chickens, and did other chores before school. During his teen years, he was an usher at the cinema after school and on weekends. He pedaled his bicycle many miles working as a newspaper boy. In addition, he helped out in the family mattress factory and store. After graduating from Little Rock High School in 1943, where he was a proud trombone section member of the superior rated Tiger Concert and Marching Band, he worked in the defense plant in Jacksonville, Arkansas. As an adult, he enlisted in the Navy in 1943, and was stationed in San Francisco and San Diego. Upon his discharge, Mr. Barrett was employed by Rock Island and Missouri Pacific Railroads. He then worked for the Pulaski County Assessor, which led to his hire with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Mr. Barrett studied accounting and tax law during his first clerk job with the IRS. Meanwhile, he enlisted in the Arkansas National Guard, 106th, 4th Army and played in the Army Band composed of mostly veterans and semi-professional musicians. He was extremely proud to march, playing the trombone, to increase pride in the country. One of his fondest memories was leading the band in a parade in New York City. Mr. Barrett met and fell in love with his "Princess on High", Glenna Irene Choate of Pine Bluff who became his wife and gave him two sons, Milton Ralph Barrett II, M.D., and Mark Andrew Barrett. The couple attended many symphony orchestra performances, enjoying the Boston Pops the most. Traveling with their sons was a great joy to them. God blessed the couple with a long marriage of sixty-five years as they resided in Pine Bluff, Blytheville, and Little Rock. Mr. Barrett became a Master Mason in 1950, and received more light upon going through the Little Rock Consistory, attaining the 32nd degree the following year. He was also a member of the M.M. Ebbers Post #1 of the American Legion and belonged to the Fraternal part of the 40 and 8. After passing his CPA exam, Mr. Barrett began a 40 year service with the IRS with Pine Bluff as his first post of duty. Thirty six years of his forty were spent as a Senior Field Revenue Officer Group Leader, a Procedures Advisor, and Assistant to the Chief of the division. Upon retirement, the Treasury Department bestowed Mr. Barrett the "Albert Gallatin Award" for outstanding service. The State of Arkansas hired him as the Corporation Tax Auditor Supervisor where he worked for the next ten years. After his retirement from the state, Mr. Barrett sold major appliances for Sears for ten years. Mr. Barrett is preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Glenna Irene Choate Barrett, two sons, Mark Andrew Barrett and Dr. Milton R. Barrett II; his parents, Homer Dale and Nina Grace Burden Barrett; a brother; Don Barrett, a brother-in-law; Jackson Carpenter, Sr.; two sisters-in-law; Corene Choate Carpenter and Evelyn Barrett and a nephew, Jackson Henry Carpenter II. He is survived by a grandson; Jacob Baldwin Barrett of Memphis; a brother, Homer Barrett of Great Greenwood, South Carolina; a sister-in-law, Irma Barrett of Huntsville, Alabama, and a host of beloved cousins, nephews, nieces, and great-nephews and nieces. Graveside services are 10 a.m., Saturday, June 11, 2022, in the Roselawn Cemetery in Little Rock with Brother Turner Roberts officiating. Pallbearers are Jim Atkins, Dr. James Atkins, Jayden Tullos, Steven Tullos, Harold Humphrey, and David Nutter. Honorary pallbearer is William Soccia. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hamburg First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 352, Hamburg, ARK., 71646. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Jones-Hartshorn Funeral Home of Hamburg, Arkansas. Online guestbook: www.jones-hartshorn.com. Visitation will be 6-7:30 p.m., Thursday, June 9, 2022, at the home of Jim and Lisa Atkins in Hamburg.