Charlette Barkley

Charlette Barkley, 80, passed away on September 20, 2026, leaving behind people who loved her deeply. She is survived by her nephews, Timmy Parr and Raymond Parr, as well as her son, TJ Dixon, Tiara Dixon, and their family. Charlette’s story was not always an easy one. As a young child, she experienced hardships that most children should never have to face. One story from her childhood perhaps says more about who Charlette was than anything else could. When she and her siblings were very young, they were found alone with very little food. Even though Charlette herself was hungry, she would not take the milk and food that were offered to her until she knew there would be enough for her baby sister. She was only a little girl, but already she was putting someone she loved ahead of herself. Charlette later grew up on a farm in Arkansas with her adoptive parents and siblings, a time in her life she remembered with great affection. She loved sharing stories about growing up on the farm—milking cows, gathering eggs, and the everyday chores and adventures of country life. Those memories remained special to Charlette throughout her life. That same loving and giving heart would define the rest of her life. Charlette loved nothing more than her son, TJ, and his five children—Anna, Joey, Laura, Lisa, and Teddi. They were the center of her world and the greatest source of love and joy in her life. When TJ and Tiara moved their growing family from Liberty to the country, Charlette went with them. She made her home with them and became a constant part of their everyday lives. She loved being surrounded by her family and watching the five children grow. The country became home, but more importantly, she was home because she was with the people she loved most. As the children grew older, Charlette eventually moved into an apartment of her own nearby. But moving into her own home never meant moving out of the family. The children continued visiting her as they grew into adults, and Charlette remained part of Christmases, Thanksgivings, celebrations, milestones, and the ordinary moments that make a family a family. Charlette never had much in the way of material possessions, but somehow she always had something to give. She made sure the children had gifts and never missed an opportunity to show them how much she loved them. What Charlette had in abundance was kindness, loyalty, generosity, and a remarkable capacity to love. She approached life with a sweet, almost childlike sense of wonder. She never drove a car or had a driver’s license, but in many ways Charlette’s world was much bigger than that. Her world was made up of the people she loved—and she loved them completely. Charlette was married for many years to her husband, Bill Barkley, who preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Billy Gibbs, and her sister, Marilyn Parr. Throughout her life, that same love extended to her own family, including her nephews, Timmy and Raymond. The little girl who once made sure her younger sister was cared for grew into a woman whose life was characterized by caring for others. Serving as pallbearers will be Teddy Dixon, Anna Milligan, Joseph Dixon, Laura Bentz, Lisa Dixon, and Teddi Paxton. In a fitting final act of love, TJ and the five children Charlette helped raise will have the honor of carrying her to her final resting place. Some people enter our lives quietly and, without anyone realizing it at the time, become part of the very fabric of our family. Charlette was one of those people. And if there truly are angels who walk among us, those who loved Charlette believe Charlette Barkley was as close to one as they may ever know. Visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, September 25, 2026, at Park Lawn Cemetery near Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. Funeral services will follow at 10:00 a.m.