Barry was born April 7, 1954, at Tri-County Hospital, Fort Oglethorpe, GA, to Frank Thomas and Joyce Humphrys Dillard. Barry and his younger sister Teresa were raised from infancy in Nashville, TN, without the financial or moral support of Frank Thomas, by his loving mother Joyce, a schoolteacher for 30 years in Metro Nashville Public Schools, grandparents Homer C. and Annie Smith Humphrys, and his maternal aunts and uncles. He graduated from Glencliff High School in 1972 among the top ten highest scholastic averages in his class. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Middle Tennessee State University in 1975.
Barry began his career as a Quality Assurance Field Representative for The Southland Corporation of Orlando, FL, and was quickly promoted to Account Executive for Southland Distribution Center, on behalf of which he traveled extensively throughout the southeast. He relocated to Memphis, TN, to become Supervisor for the 7-Eleven Food Stores division of Southland and served as Division Merchandiser and Area Manager for its successor MAPCO Petroleum. He then spent 20 years in sales management roles with Charles C. Parks Company of Gallatin, TN, before transitioning to Eby-Brown Company and then H.T. Hackney as Key Account Manager for Tri Star’s “Daily’s” middle Tennessee chain of convenience stores.
Barry retired in February 2020. He had a love of horticulture as well as a knack for enhancing the structure and grounds of the homes he owned throughout his life to extraordinary levels of beauty and perfection. He adored his two sons, Ross (born 1985) and Reed (born 1989), and was beloved by the same. He was a kind and loving husband, father, son, brother, nephew, cousin, uncle, father-in-law, and brother-in-law to his wonderful family. He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Hendersonville, TN.
Preceded in death by his mother, Joyce Dillard; father, Frank Dillard; sister and brother-in-law, Teresa and John Alston; and half-brother, Sam Dillard.
Survived by loving wife, Gayle Dillard of Goodlettsville, TN; sons, Ross Dillard and Reed (Chassey) Dillard of Chattanooga, TN; half-sisters, Scarlett Dillard of Mexico City, Mexico, and Fern Dillard of Chattanooga, TN; brothers-in-law, Mike (Mary) Fentress of Goodlettsville, TN and Jerry (Sharon) Fentress of Hendersonville, TN; half-sister-in-law, Janet Dillard of Memphis, TN; nephew Dale (Bridget) Fisher of Seattle, WA, and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Visitation Monday, August 17, 2020, from 4pm until 8pm at Forest Lawn Funeral Home.
Visitation Tuesday, August 18, 2020, from 9am until time of service at First Baptist Church of Hendersonville.
Funeral Service Tuesday August 18, 2020, at 11am at First Baptist Church of Hendersonville.
Interment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens.
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