The Oklahoma Eagle Newswire
Army Colonel Clarence Gerald Barrens passed on Wednesday, May 24, 2017. Barrens was born to Grady Edward Barrens and Velma Rosalie Jackson Barrens in Nacogdoches, Texas on September 14, 1929. He received his early Christian education at Zion Hill Baptist Church. As a young child, he moved with his family to Tulsa, Oklahoma and ultimately graduated from Booker T. Washington High School. Barrens graduated from Prairie View A & M University, Prairie View, Texas on May 26, 1951. Having completed the Advanced Army ROTC Program, he was concurrently commissioned a Second Lieutenant Infantry in the United States Army Reserves.
On December 23, 1951, he married Jenelle Ann Ewell. During the Korean conflict, Barrens served with the 160th Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division, followed by a long tour in Stuttgart, Germany. He served in the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) during the Vietnam War.
Other notable assignments include those of Associate Professor of Military Science at Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri; Chief, Force Structure Branch, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Development, Headquarters, Department of the Army, Washington, D.C.; Commander 3rd Battalion, 3rd Basic Combat Training Brigade and Executive Officer and Commander, 2nd BCT Brigade, Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri; Member Suitability Evaluation Board, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, Department of the Army, Washington, D.C.; Commander, 5th Advanced Individual Training Brigade, Fort Dix, New Jersey; Commander, New York Area Command and Ft. Hamilton, New York, New York; and Commander, Fort Leslie J. McNair, Washington, D.C. Barrens, subsequent to earning his Baccalaureate Degree, earned the Master of Education Degree from Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri during his tour as Associate Professor of Military Science at Lincoln University.
He is also a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Ft. Benning, Georgia; the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. Barrens and his wife were active members in their local churches during their many duty assignments.
They were the first African American members of First Baptist in Hart, Michigan where their only child, Angela was born. Subsequent churches were Ninth Street Baptist Church in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Second Baptist Church in Jefferson City, Missouri. In 1981, they joined Fort Washington Baptist Church. During their time at Fort Washington Baptist Church Barrens was involved in many church activities, ultimately serving as Chairman of the Diaconate and Trustee Boards. Barrens is survived by his loving wife Jenelle Ann Ewell Barrens. They were happily married for more than 65 years; his beloved daughter Dr. Angela Renee Barrens-Alexander, his beloved granddaughter, Marjorie Rose Alexander, Nieces: Alethea Barrens Hamilton, Janet Barrens Daniels, Sharon Ewell Foster and Allison Barrens; Nephews: Grady E. Barrens III, Valcris Ewell III, Melvin Gerald Barrens, Newton Ewell, Ernest Barrens, Alan Barrens, Anthony Barrens, Elliot Barrens, Robert Barrens, Rodney Barrens, and Jason Barrens.
