Orenthal James "O.J." Barr

Orenthal James “OJ” Barr, 47 was born in Lexington County, South Carolina on August 4, 1975.  He was the son of Larry Willis and Valerie Barr.  He entered into eternal rest on Thursday, October 6, 2022.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Milas and Kathleen Barr, Willie Frank Willis and an uncle, Frankie Joe "Pue" Johnson.

Also known to his family and friends as “O” and “Uncle O,” he was our family chef and mediator and of course, one of the many family members rooting for “America’s Football Team,” those Dallas Cowboys.

At an early age, Orenthal joined and attended Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina.  He graduated from Batesburg-Leesville High School, Batesburg- Leesville, South Carolina in 1993.  He was an outstanding football, basketball and baseball player.

After graduating from high school, he attended Morris College in Sumter, South Carolina for two years. In 1995, he returned home to Batesburg-Leesville, where he dedicated his time to the Batesburg-Leesville community and became involved with coaching Little League football, basketball and baseball teams.

He was employed by Amick’s Farms located in Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina.

He leaves to cherish so many precious memories:  a loving daughter – Jaylah O. Barr of Durham, North Carolina; his mother and best friend – Valerie Barr of Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina and father – Larry (Cordelia) Willis of Lexington, South Carolina; grandmother – Mrs. Lucille M. Willis of Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina; devoted and special aunts and uncles – Linda (Thomas) Marshall of Silver Spring, Maryland, Joe Lee (Eva Mae) Barr, Vanessa (Eddie) Jackson, Patricia Harris and Betty Jean (Walter) Sugick, all of Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina, Alvin (Louise) Willis, Pamela Davis, Gary Willis, Lisa Willis and Terry Willis, all of Atlanta, Georgia and Victoria (Zavean) Ware of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Goddaughters – Simone Barr, Amira Barr and Annika Barr; Godsons – Darius Dennis of Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina and Zahir Barr of Cordova, Tennessee; a very closeknit group of cousins (too many to name) who will miss him dearly and many friends throughout the Batesburg-Leesville community.

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