Brian Bart Black

Brian Bart Black made his final appearance in this life on February 20, 2022. His last gesture was highly 20th century in nature as he steadfastly refused to embrace the 21st century by requesting stamps from his partner for eternity, Kim Leffew, to pay bills via snail mail. Since he never showed up to collect the stamps, Kim assumed he had most likely gotten sidetracked picking up seed pods dropped by his beloved magnolia trees which incessantly littered his front lawn this time of year. He lovingly called these seed pods hand grenades. Bart could be found picking up “hand grenades” most every weekend. This was not the case as God had different plans for Bart.

Bart was born on October 22, 1959, in Kingsport, Tennessee to proud parents Kenneth Black and Doris Sheperd Black Barker. God intended to break the mold that day, but He realized the little boy he had created had many gifts that needed to be passed on. So, He thankfully kept his “Bart Black recipe” for future use.

As a child, Bart was forever climbing trees and racing around the Kingsport area on his bicycle at breakneck speeds. Both activities led to several accidents and many trips to the emergency room to set broken bones. It was during one of these long stints of being unable to play outside due to a broken leg that he discovered his love for horticulture, which flourished later in life. He became a self-taught gardener, growing plants, flowers, and vegetables. His older sister, Sheree, and his younger sister, Joy were his companions and cohorts in childhood mischief as their Mother tried her best to keep up with them all.

In 1974, the family moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee where Bart attended and graduated from Oak Ridge High School at the age of 16. While there, Bart developed his quite impressive artistic talent and excelled in mathematics. He was a voracious reader with a photographic memory and enjoyed learning about all things Appalachian, the Civil War, archaeology, coins, plants, geography, geology, and astronomy. He became a walking encyclopedia of knowledge and regularly enjoyed sweeping a Jeopardy board including all Daily Doubles and Final Jeopardy. Bart attended the University of Tennessee where he studied architecture and engineering.

In 1980, Bart began his illustrious career as a master glazier, working on commercial job sites throughout the Southeastern United States. He was employed by Union Glass and Metal headquartered in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Many of the buildings he worked on are unique in design and simply appear to defy gravity. One of the most impressive accomplishments of his 40+ year career is the 60-story Bank of America Corporate Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. With a height of 871 feet, the setting of the crown on top of this tower was one of the most thrilling and satisfying accomplishments of his career. Luckily, we can drive to most any major city in the Southeast and see his work on display today, including but certainly not limited to Charlotte, Clemson, Raleigh, and Winthrop.

Growing up in Bart’s household meant you had multiple servings of delicious food to eat since he thoroughly enjoyed cooking for a crowd. He acquired a taste for Asian cuisine and, enjoyed melding unconventional pairings into delectable smorgasbords of flavor and texture. He smoked the best turkey on the planet and enjoyed grilling anything. Watching family and friends eat his culinary masterpieces was one of his most treasured pastimes.

Growing up with Bart also meant having a custom playset with a sandbox, tire swing, fort, and usually a very cool deck for picnics and tea parties.

Bart touched a gamut of individuals with his time here on Earth. He enjoyed spending his time playing Jenga, piecing together intricate puzzles, tinkering with cars and tools, reading the dictionary (in order to smoke the Scrabble board), playing chess, drawing, photography, and taking care of everyone. Bart’s treasures include geodes, gemstones, fossils, vinyl records, old coins, and four-leaf clovers. He admired many musical instruments and was never afraid to crank up the tunes. He cherished the quality time he had with those he loved and jumped at the opportunity to share an awesome story and his vast wisdom.

Bart’s dry sense of humor, artistic nature, soft heart, curiosity, impatience, persnickety perfectionism, and extraordinarily high intelligence live on in his life’s greatest accomplishments. Left to carry on Bart’s amazing legacy are: Melissa Lynne Hudgins (Seth), Brian Andrew Black (Alexandria), Brandon Daniel Black (Sarah), Hunter Thomas Black (Mindy), and Mika Michelle Black. In turn, more of Bart’s best can be found in his grandchildren: Matilyn Jade, Blake William, Bailey Elizabeth, Leonidas Wayne, and River Fay who will be joining us soon.

Left with decades of precious memories are Bart’s siblings Sheree Black and Joy Johnson along with nephews Matthew Johnson, Frank Hammer, and Jeremy Hammer. “Uncle Bart” will also be remembered by eight great nieces and nephews and six great-great nieces and nephews.

Bart was preceded in death by grandparents Buck and Ethel Shepard, parents Kenneth Black and Doris Barker, and nephew Michael Grubb.

Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 1PM EST at Berry Highland Memorial, 5315 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee 37919. Pastor Joel Dew will officiate the service. A reception will immediately follow with light hors d’oeuvres and snacks.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.berryhighlandmemorial.com for the Black family.