Dr. Frank M. Barker, Jr.

Frank Morehead Barker, Jr., born January 31, 1932, graduated from life to LIFE on Monday, December 27, 2021 - one month shy of his 90th birthday. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank M. Barker, Sr. and Annie Lee Barker, and his sister Minnie Lee Barker (Wiley) Livingston.

Frank graduated from Ramsey High School in 1949 and attended Auburn University on a NROTC scholarship where he also played for the tennis team. After graduating with an engineering degree, Frank became a Navy Jet Fighter Pilot, serving during the Korean War. During his time in the Navy, he also flew with the Blue Angels as their official photographer. After a few close calls flying off of aircraft carriers, Frank believed that God was trying to get his attention, and in an effort to amend his ways, he decided to attend seminary. While in seminary he began pastoring a small church in Oxford, AL, and for the first time he began to question what it truly meant to be a Christian. After an Air Force chaplain explained that salvation was by grace, Frank’s life was completely transformed, and from that day forward he lived to share that news with others. In 1960, Frank returned to Birmingham to start Briarwood Church in a storefront in Cahaba Heights, and in 1961 Frank and Barbara (Brown) were married in that storefront. Over the next 39 years, Frank and Barbara served side by side, watching God work to not only multiply the church, but to magnify Himself through their ministry. Fueled by the vision of “reaching Birmingham to reach the world for Christ,” Frank oversaw the foundation of Briarwood Christian School, Birmingham Theological Seminary, Campus Outreach, Briarwood Ballet, as well as Camp Briarwood and ministries to business and medical professionals.

In 1973, Frank was instrumental in the formation of a new denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America - a conservative break from the mainline Presbyterian Church (USA). Until his final breath, Frank faithfully served the Lord and taught His Word.

He will be greatly missed by his three children, Anita (Billy) Barnes, Frank (Pam) Barker, III, and Peggy (Tim) Townes; his 14 grandchildren, 9 (plus 2 on-the-way) great-grandchildren, and thousands upon thousands of those who know Jesus because of his life.

Graveside services will be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Monday, the 3rd of January 2022 at Alabama National Cemetery located in Montevallo, Alabama. A memorial service will then be held at Briarwood Presbyterian Church on Saturday, the 8th of January 2022 commencing at two o’clock in the afternoon. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to the following organizations to continue the impact of Frank’s life: The Frank and Barbara Barker Founders Circle for Campus Outreach Serve (coserve.org); the Barker-Hay Scholarship Fund at Birmingham Theological Seminary (bts.education); or the Frank Barker Chair of Evangelism and Missions at Westminster Theological Seminary (wts.edu/give). Services are under the care and direction of Ridout’s Valley Chapel (205-879-3401) in Homewood.