Rev. Ronald Jerry Barham, 65, of Meridian, died Sunday, July 20, 2008, at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 25, 2008, at Poplar Springs Drive United Methodist Church in Meridian, with burial at Meridian Memorial Park. The Revs. Bill Lowrey, Rayford Woodrich, Rob Gill and Bert Felder officiated. A United Methodist pastor, he was a planter of trees and other growing things, lover of birds and bees and all God’s beasts and critters. He was a teacher, learner, civil rights defender, master cook, word lover, nature guide, fiddler-with gadgets and tools. He was a hunter, fisherman, carpenter, storyteller. He was a member of the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church and served in many ministerial capacities over his 40 year career. He graduated from Millsaps College in 1965 and received his Master of Divinity from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Bertha Barham of Meridian. He leaves a legacy of love of all life, compassion for marginalized people, humor, curiosity, good food and unconventional ways of teaching and living out the Gospel of Christ. “Well done, good and faithful servant.” He is survived by an innumerable host of friends and family, including his partner of 41 years, Carrol F. Barham of Collinsville; children, Winston K. Barham of Gordonsville, Va., and Rachel E. Barham and her spouse, James Rogers of Washington, D.C.; three siblings and their spouses, Otha and Lurey Barham and Robert and Janet Barham, all of Meridian and Marge and Tom Sims of Annandale, Va.; four nieces and nephews, John L. Barham, Kathleen D. Sims, Rob S. Barham and Rev. Michael P. Barham; and a brother-in-law, Dr. Erwyn Freeman and spouse, Linda, of Vaughan.