tv star collector
03-03-2006, 06:41 PM
James Ferrell, opinion page editor for the Rock Hill, S.C., Herald newspaper, wrote this column today. I wanted to share it with Barney Fife's many fans.
MAYBERRY, N.C. -- Barney Fife, former deputy with the county sheriff's office
and a retired member of the Raleigh Police Department, has died. He was 81.
Fife for many years in the 1960s was the lone deputy under Sheriff Andy Taylor.
Taylor, who left Mayberry to become a well-known criminal defense attorney in
Atlanta, returned to his hometown to attend funeral services for Fife last week.
"Barney was a small man, but everything else about him was large. He was
special, there's nobody like him," Taylor said.
The former sheriff was accompanied by his wife Helen, and his son, Opie, who,
after moving to Los Angeles, has become a renowned movie director.
"Barney was like an uncle to me," said the younger Taylor, whose mother
died when he was a small child. "Next to Dad and Aunt Bee, I'd say Barney
was the most important and influential adult figure I knew when I was growing
up."
Bee Taylor, Andy Taylor's aunt, died in 1989 at age 86.
Deputy Fife was a popular figure in town. While often the brunt of good-
natured joking, he was known for his dedication to law enforcement and his
generous nature.
"He was like a bantam rooster, but he had a big heart," said Elwood Lawson,
who now operates a downtown barbershop and popular gathering place once
owned by his late uncle, Floyd Lawson. "Barney could get himself into a fix
now and then, too, but it usually seemed to work out all right in the end.
That was mostly thanks to Andy, who was a real pro. But Barney was a
loyal, hard-working deputy for a long time, and a good friend to my family."
Those sentiments were echoed by Brig. Gen. Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., Ret.,
another close friend of Fife's.
"Golllleee, it's hard to believe old Barn is gone," said Pyle, who returned to
reside in Mayberry after a long career in the Marine Corps. "Seems like only
yesterday that I was checking the oil on his cruiser over at Wally's filling
station with cousin Goober. Yessiree, we had some good times, some
exciting times."
Pyle recalled the time he and Fife helped break up a secret moonshine
operation in what many residents had regarded as a haunted house.
Sheriff Taylor also played a role in apprehending the moonshiners.
Fife also was instrumental in solving a mysterious hotel jewelry theft ring
while with the Raleigh P.D. Although Sheriff Taylor was on hand to help,
Fife got credit for arresting the culprit.
Otis Campbell, another long-time friend, also spoke fondly of Fife.
"I guess it's no big secret that I used to be the town drunk, and I owe a lot
to Barney for helping me get sober," Campbell said. "He's let me come and go
down at the jail whenever I went on a bender. I'd sleep it off in the cell.
Barney was always there for me when I needed him."
Fife was active in community affairs and a lifetime member of the All Souls
Church. He sang, briefly, in the church choir.
He is survived by his wife, Thelma Lou, and a son, Barney Fife Jr., a detective
with the Mount Pilot Police Department.
MAYBERRY, N.C. -- Barney Fife, former deputy with the county sheriff's office
and a retired member of the Raleigh Police Department, has died. He was 81.
Fife for many years in the 1960s was the lone deputy under Sheriff Andy Taylor.
Taylor, who left Mayberry to become a well-known criminal defense attorney in
Atlanta, returned to his hometown to attend funeral services for Fife last week.
"Barney was a small man, but everything else about him was large. He was
special, there's nobody like him," Taylor said.
The former sheriff was accompanied by his wife Helen, and his son, Opie, who,
after moving to Los Angeles, has become a renowned movie director.
"Barney was like an uncle to me," said the younger Taylor, whose mother
died when he was a small child. "Next to Dad and Aunt Bee, I'd say Barney
was the most important and influential adult figure I knew when I was growing
up."
Bee Taylor, Andy Taylor's aunt, died in 1989 at age 86.
Deputy Fife was a popular figure in town. While often the brunt of good-
natured joking, he was known for his dedication to law enforcement and his
generous nature.
"He was like a bantam rooster, but he had a big heart," said Elwood Lawson,
who now operates a downtown barbershop and popular gathering place once
owned by his late uncle, Floyd Lawson. "Barney could get himself into a fix
now and then, too, but it usually seemed to work out all right in the end.
That was mostly thanks to Andy, who was a real pro. But Barney was a
loyal, hard-working deputy for a long time, and a good friend to my family."
Those sentiments were echoed by Brig. Gen. Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., Ret.,
another close friend of Fife's.
"Golllleee, it's hard to believe old Barn is gone," said Pyle, who returned to
reside in Mayberry after a long career in the Marine Corps. "Seems like only
yesterday that I was checking the oil on his cruiser over at Wally's filling
station with cousin Goober. Yessiree, we had some good times, some
exciting times."
Pyle recalled the time he and Fife helped break up a secret moonshine
operation in what many residents had regarded as a haunted house.
Sheriff Taylor also played a role in apprehending the moonshiners.
Fife also was instrumental in solving a mysterious hotel jewelry theft ring
while with the Raleigh P.D. Although Sheriff Taylor was on hand to help,
Fife got credit for arresting the culprit.
Otis Campbell, another long-time friend, also spoke fondly of Fife.
"I guess it's no big secret that I used to be the town drunk, and I owe a lot
to Barney for helping me get sober," Campbell said. "He's let me come and go
down at the jail whenever I went on a bender. I'd sleep it off in the cell.
Barney was always there for me when I needed him."
Fife was active in community affairs and a lifetime member of the All Souls
Church. He sang, briefly, in the church choir.
He is survived by his wife, Thelma Lou, and a son, Barney Fife Jr., a detective
with the Mount Pilot Police Department.