Atlanta
Remembering Deacon Joseph Barker of St. Anthony of Padua Church
Published November 28, 2024
ATLANTA—Deacon Joseph Thibodeaux Barker Sr., who served at St. Anthony of Padua Church, Atlanta, and St. John the Evangelist Church, Hapeville, died Oct. 31. He was 88 years old.

Deacon Joseph Barker, who died Oct. 31, served St. Anthony of Padua Church and St. John the Evangelist Church.
He was born in August 1936, in Houston Texas, to Benny Barker Sr. and Dora Finley, raised with the camaraderie of his siblings Benny Jr, Patricia Anne, and adopted siblings Gloria, Ronnie and Donnie. He spent many of his formative years with his grandparents, Burl and Alice Barker, Aunt Cora Lee (Bootsy) and cousins Frederica and Harvey Ellis.
Deacon Barker grew up playing little league basketball and baseball. He had such a love for sports and for community, that he brought the two together, organizing a baseball youth league at the age of 12. He was running track and was captain of his football team by the time he was in high school. He enjoyed playing with softball leagues, until he retired his glove in his late 70s.
After graduating high school in Germany, he joined the Army and put himself through college. He attended Prairie View A&M University, majoring in mechanical engineering. It was on campus that Joe Barker met the woman of his dreams, Richardine Leola Moore
They studied together to practice their faith as Catholics. Joe and Richardine were married on Nov. 21, 1959, and established their life in Houston. They welcomed six children: Aundrea (who died in 1960), Dinetta, Derrick, Jerralyn, Jeanine and Joseph II.
The deacon began his career as the first Black engineer hired by NASA’s Johnson Spacecraft Center in Houston. He paved the way for others when he challenged his supervisors on promotions that he and other African American hires were passed up for. He worked to acquire the records and documentation to prove his eligibility, and as a result was promoted to a level of GS12. In the coming months, other African American colleagues were also promoted.
Deacon Barker worked in the Life Systems Division, later changing to the Environment Control Division, assigned to the Space Suit Section. His project was to provide an umbilical cord from the spacesuit to the spacecraft, and a chest pack as an emergency oxygen supply, for astronauts to leave the spacecraft and walk in space.
The next leg of his career was a move to Atlanta, working as a systems analyst with IBM, and later as a consultant.
Joe and Richardine poured their lives into rearing their children, to see them graduate from college and start their own careers and families. Joe was also unwavering in his commitment to the Catholic Church. He was ordained to the permanent diaconate by Archbishop Eugene Marino on Dec. 3, 1988, and was a steadfast servant and minister of the Gospel for St. Anthony of Padua Church and St. John the Evangelist Church.
He is survived by his wife; five children; 18 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren with another to be born soon; and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Nov. 21 at St. Anthony of Padua Church, the Barkers’ 65th wedding anniversary. The committal followed at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton.