Charles Richard Barge

Charles Richard Barge (Richard) was born on October 2, 1930, to Charles Alexander Barge and Bonnie Inez Furr Barge. He was welcomed by sisters Charlene and Betty.

His father, Charles, was from Zavalla, Texas, and his mother was the oldest child of a Baptist Pastor whose first church was in Mashulaville, Mississippi. His father left Texas to come to work at Sumter Lumber Company in Electric Mills, Mississippi near Scooba, where he met Bonnie.

When he was born, Richard’s parents lived in Louisville, and he was born in Meridian. His father at that time was Sales Manager at D. L. Fair Lumber Company. Richard lived with his family in Louisville until his father purchased a sawmill in Ethel, and he moved the entire family to Ethel. After a few years, his father moved the family to Jackson and Richard attended Bailey Junior High and Central High School. At Central, he was in ROTC and became a starter on the football team. He graduated in 1949 as a Forty-Niner as that class proudly called themselves.

Richard attended Bob Jones University, where his sisters had graduated. Richard had met a beautiful girl in Macon, Laura Inez Deavenport, and they were married in July 1951. That next year, Richard and Inez attended Bob Jones together, and the following year, Mississippi College. Inez was the love of his life and together they had four children and were married for 72 years. They lost their son Mark to cancer in 1994.

Richard served as Operations Director of the youth camp founded by his father, Lake Forest Ranch, for a number of years. The Lord has blessed the camp immensely and it is celebrating 75 years this year.

Richard also excelled in timber management managing the family forest, C. A. Barge Timberlands, for 50 years. In his honor, the family named the forest The Charles Richard Barge Forest.

In July 1983, he was appointed by Governor William Winter to serve on the Mississippi Forestry Commission. And in July 1987, he was elected Chairman of the Commission He served as Chairman until 1989.

He served as the President of the Mississippi Forestry Association in 1998 and was a Director Emeritus at the time of his death. He was a member of MFA for over 60 years. In October 2016, he was awarded the Meritorious Service to Forestry Award, which is MFA’s highest honor.

Richard also served on the Board of Directors of the local bank which was then Merchants and Farmers Bank of Macon. He served as a board member from 1967 to 2002, a period of 35 years. In 1994, he was elected Chairman of the board, and he served until he retired in 2002. The bank changed its name during his chairmanship to BankFirst Financial Services

Richard founded Barge Forest Products Co. in 1985 as a pole mill and built a sawmill in 1990 that is recognized for its high-quality products today and provides 80 jobs for Noxubee County.

Over the years, Richard served as a Deacon, a Sunday School Teacher, and Song Director at Calvary Baptist Church and later served at First Baptist Church with his excellent voice by singing in the choir.

In summary, whether Richard’s life involved Christian Camping, Timberland Management, Public Service in Forestry, Creating Manufacturing Jobs and quality lumber products, or the giving of his assets to advance the Kingdom of God, he has excelled in his calling and God has blessed him.

Richard was predeceased by his wife, Laura Inez, and a son Mark Kevin. He is survived by a daughter Rebecca Anne Cowan (Micky), a son Charles David (Yvonne),  a son Richard William, 3 grandchildren (Charles Edward Cowan, Laura Catherine Cowan Leone, and Haley Claire Cowan Dawkins, four great-grandchildren and sister, Betty Jean Morris.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at Calvary Baptist Church, 105 Dent St., Macon, MS. At 3:00 p.m. Interment will follow in Oddfellow Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1-3 p.m. at the church. The family requests, no flowers, please. Memorials may be made to Lake Forest Ranch, 5326 Lake Forest Road, Macon, MS 39341. Cockrell Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with arrangements.