William Christopher “Chris” Barrier
Nov 2, 1942 - Jul 3rd, 2021- Birth Date: Nov 2, 1942
- Death Date: Jul 3, 2021
- Funeral Date: Jul 6, 2021, 2:00 pm
- Location: Temple B'nai Israel
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Biography: William Christopher “Chris” Barrier was born November 2, 1942, in Jacksonville, Florida, where his father worked for the Navy. He died, July 3, 2021, in Little Rock.
He is survived by his beloved wife Nan Selz, his loving daughters Catherine Barrier of Little Rock and SevaPriya Sarah Barrier of Alachua, Florida, and by his wonderful grandchildren Lucy Eleanor Dugan and Tamal Holzman Barrier. He is also survived by his brother Michael and wife Phyllis of Little Rock, by Emily Charles Barrier, the mother of his daughters, and by his stepsons Micah Brown and Jacob Brown.
Chris was a proud graduate of Hendrix College and Duke University Law School. He practiced law for over 50 years with the Mitchell Williams Law Firm in Little Rock, helping it grow from eight to over 90 lawyers in five offices.
He served on and chaired numerous Arkansas Bar Association sections and committees and its governing bodies and was a regular award-winning seminar speaker. He published literally hundreds of columns, law review articles, practice pointers and book reviews, primarily on real estate law.
He was recognized as an outstanding pro bono lawyer by Central Arkansas Legal Services, and for his humanitarian efforts by Hendrix and the Arkansas Bar Foundation.
He also published and illustrated scores of casual and travel pieces, editorial cartoons and Gridiron playbills. He shepherded his book club as general secretary for over 20 years.
He was an Arkansas Arts Center trustee and Arkansas Symphony Orchestra officer and director and pro bono lawyer. He served two years as president of the Woodruff Elementary PTA.
He organized and raised funds for the original Friends of the Zoo, Inc. and served as its first president. He was an active leader and fund raiser for Hendrix College.
He was a volunteer for progressive causes and candidates. He helped save and restore three historic buildings in the Quapaw Quarter. He served as a volunteer and trustee at Temple B’nai Israel.
Chris will be remembered at a memorial service at the Temple, 3700 Rodney Parham Road on Tuesday, July 6, at 2:00 p.m. conducted by Rabbi Barry Block. His ashes will be interred in the Hendrix College Columbarium on the campus. In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to Hendrix College or Temple B’nai Israel.
We are truly sorry for this loss but are confident that many happy memories will help to comfort you at this difficult time.
Over the last 40 years we had occasions to interact with Chris and often thought of him if we were looking for an honest and caring answer or referral for a legal issue.
Chris was warm, caring, willing, ethical and honorable. He will always be remembered with fondness and respect.
I'm sure there are many people who feel this way and that's a wonderful tribute to the character, humanity and morals of Chris Barrier.
Allan and Laura Gold
Little Rock
Please know that June and I are thinking and praying for you and our sympathy and condolences are with you and your family.
Dr. Bunny Brown
All of you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Scott Kaufman
Regrettably, we are out of town and will not be able to attend his memorial service, though we will be thinking of him and of his family and of his kindness and good deeds.
May his memory be a blessing.