“JR” Barnett, 65, of Higgins stepped into his heavenly home on Saturday, November 8, 2025, in Higgins with his co-driver, Tamara by his side.

Private family services will be held in the Higgins Cemetery. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Canadian.

Herman Beckham Barnett, Jr., was born July 16, 1960, in Bowling Green, Kentucky, to Herman and Sylvia Barnett, Sr. In 1972, at the age of 12, JR was with his dad on a cross-country long-haul truck; he was soon co-driving with his dad. JR served with the US Army. He drove trucks in the oilfield and cross-country as a single driver until he met Tamara in North Dakota. JR and Tamara married in 2014 and were cross-country co-drivers until his recent illness. They moved to Tennessee in 2016, and to Higgins in 2022. 

The Holy Spirit moved in JR’s life while attending a 2020 Easter Sunday service and he invited Jesus to be a full-time part of his life. Since this was during the time of Covid, JR was sitting in his car, and Tamara encouraged him to go now and talk to the pastor!

JR was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Sylvia Barnett Sr.; a brother Daniel Barnett, and a sister Priscilla Barnett.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Tamara Barnett of Higgins; Tamara’s children, Shannon Woodrum and husband Matthew of Higgins and Rob Waddell of Virginia; three grandchildren, Lindsey, Lauren and Leora; a large family in Tennessee; and a special lifetime friend, Luke Flink.

Sign the online guest register at www.carmichael-whatleyofcanadian.com