DAYTONA BEACH NEWS- JOURNAL
Daytona Beach, Florida
Friday, June 11, 1999

FORMER BUNNELL MAYOR DIES AT 76

Bunnell -- Shelton B. Barber, retired Flagler County clerk of the circuit court and former mayor of Bunnell, died Thursday at Memorial Hospital-Flagler. He was 76.

Barber, of North Anderson Street, was born in Bunnell and lived his entire life within a four block radius of the Flagler County Courthouse. A staunch Democrat, he served as Bunnell's mayor and a municipal judge in the 10 years before his six-term, 24 year position as Flagler County's top clerk. He retired in 1992.

Colleagues remember Barber's upstanding character.

"I have know Shelton since I was a very little girl. I stayed at his house with his daughter, Flagler County Tax Collector Suzette Pellicer said Thursday. "Very few people stay so upbeat and pleasant through everything. I will miss Shelton."

County Commissioner John Seay, who served as Property Appraiser at the same time Barber was clerk of the court, said Thursday that Barber "was an outstanding citizen and a good public official" who "is going to be missed by a lot of people, especially those who knew him well."

Barber graduated from Bunnell High School in 1942, then served in World War II as a Marine Corps sergeant in the Pacific Islands Campaign.

His community endeavors after the war included service in numerous area organizations. He was past treasurer of the Flagler County Council on Aging, former Flagler County Recruitment Chairman for the East Volusia-Flagler County American Red Cross Blood Donor Program, past president of the Bunnell Lions Club and past commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5213, of which he was serving as chaplain.

He also had served on the Governor's Commission on Criminal Justice, Standards and Goals and on the boards of directors of the United Way and the Tri County Health Board.

Barber combined his enjoyment of sports with his humanitarian endeavors. The U.S. Passport Bureau honored him for excellence with the Special Olympics Program. He also coached Little League Baseball and softball for eight years.

Other organizations of which he was a member include the Afro-American Heritage Association, African-American Cultural Society, Flagler County Art League and Flagler County Audubon Society. He was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Bunnell.

Phyllis, his wife of 48 years, died in 1998. Survivors include two sons, Garrie, Bunnell, and Michael, Abilene, Texas; a daughter, Kathleen Dever, New Smyrna Beach; a sister, Annabelle Barber, Bunnell; and seven grandchildren. Volusia County Cremation, Daytona Beach, is in charge.