Barrow loved kids and the community

The Century and Flomaton areas mourn the loss of 93-year-old Lloyd Barrow, a fellow citizen and long-time resident who not only received the outstanding citizen award in 2012, but had a major impact on his community and the people in it. Barrow died Friday, Aug. 20, and his funeral was held Wednesday, Aug. 25, and he was laid to rest in Oak Hill Cemetery with Flomaton Funeral Home directing.

Barrow was a veteran of World War II and member of the Century Lion's Club. An avid collector of local athletic memorabilia and WWII items, he proudly displayed them in a special place in his home.

He graduated from Century High School in 1946 and had an extensive collection of pictures and athletic equipment and uniforms even a seasoned collector would relish. Barrow took pride in his ability to recall many details of his experiences in life and love to share them with friends.

A charter member of the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society in Century, Barrow was good friends with its president, Jerry Fischer.

"Lloyd had been the grandfather of Little League in Century, from years ago," said Fischer. "He was always there and knew all the kids who played. That's the reason the park was named after him in 2012."

Fischer said he was pretty sure most, if not all, of the pallbearers at Barrow's funeral Wednesday are adults Barrow had coached many years ago as kids in Little League sports.

Fischer said Barrow was involved in many things in the community, including being a member of Century First Baptist Church and the ballfields, noting that Barrow had been the timekeeper at Century High School football field when games were played.

"Lloyd was one of the better cooks around too," said Fischer. "He made hushpuppies and they were good. He was a cook in the army. I wish we had some of those hushpuppies here today."

Fischer said Barrow was always a part of the community, that as far as he knew, Barrow's only time he ever left was when he got drafted into the Army.

"Lloyd loved baseball, football, there wasn't a sport he didn't love," said Fischer. "Once he joined the club, he stayed. His name was at the head of the list at the park. He donated many uniforms where he played, like for St. Regis. When the Little League park was open, Lloyd was there to open it and when they finished, he was the one to lock up. He was an all around guy. He's what this country was made on."

Fischer said Barrow has donated a lot of his personal sports and military memorabilia to the Alger-Sullivan Historical Socirety and now displayed in the Leach Museum in the last year.

Former principal of Century High School and Barrow's neighbor Edsel Smith was good friends with Barrow and attended the same church.

"He was a very fine person," said Smith. "We were friends for many years. Lloyd would always say, 'I'll catch up to you,' meaning my age. He was 93 and I guess he did catch up to me before he died."

Smith did not attend Barrow's funeral because of his age and the current COVID situation.

"We were in the Century Lions Club together and we were great friends," said Smith. "He was just a wonderful person. His whole family is so very nice. Lloyd will be missed by everyone."