By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

                The deadly COVID-19 virus has claimed a second prominent and respected elected official in Levy County.

            Property Appraiser Osborn Barker, 56, passed away on Aug. 29 after a month-long battle with the disease.

            County Commissioner Mike Joyner, 70, passed away earlier from COVID-19.

            “It leaves a huge void and it’s very sad that two strong-faith Christian men in government in our community have been taken from us by this terrible virus,” said County Commission Chairman John Meeks Tuesday.

            Neither Barker nor Joyner were able to take advantage of a recently introduced monoclonal antibody therapy. Meeks said it wasn’t on the market when Barker and Joyner fell ill.

            There is a monoclonal antibody treatment center near High Springs at the Fellowship Church off U.S. 441. The governor’s office has arranged for treatment centers at various locations around the state.

            “I’m trying to get one of those here in the tri-county area. I know John MacDonald (Levy County Emergency Management director) has made a request and Matt Brooks (Levy County Commissioner) has made a request of the health department and I’ve made a request directly through the governor’s office,” Meeks said. “I saw Gov. DeSantis on Twitter. He was saying how great the treatment is and I said, well, we need one of those in the tri-county area – Levy, Gilchrist, and Dixie. We got a lot of good folks that are stricken with it. If you can get this treatment early it makes a huge difference in your recovery and recovery time.”

            Meeks said Barker was an honest public official and a good family man.

            “He was much like Commissioner Joyner. He was steep in his faith in the Lord and he was happy to tell you about it. He was a good man, a family man; I really feel sorry for his wife and young’uns and they got some grand young’uns,” Meeks said.

            Meeks said his most recent memory of Barker was when he was visiting the Florida Keys for sportsman lobster season. Barker and his family were staying in a small resort. There were other county people down in the Keys for lobster season in the last week of July.

            “I saw him on Tuesday and he seemed fine then but he got sick. We went over to where they were staying, him and some other Chiefland folks in a little resort area. I went and visited with the Hornes. He was right across the street but he was ill. I certainly didn’t expect him to take a turn like this. It’s just so crazy to think we were all on vacation enjoying our lives and spending time with people we care about and just that quick he’s gone,” Meeks said.

            Meeks said Barker did a “fantastic job” as property appraiser. The Levy County Value Adjustment Board, which adjusts property values if the property owner files a challenge, met Tuesday morning for its organizational meeting. Meeks said it was difficult to carry on without Barker present. He added that he thinks the Property Appraiser’s office will continue to function well with Barker’s chief assistant property appraiser, Randy Rutter, in charge.

            Barker served as director of emergency management in Levy County for a period of time. He owned Chiefland Aluminum and served as property appraiser since 2008. He was involved in supporting community events and was also involved in Chiefland Rotary Club.

            A celebration of Barker’s life will be held at First Baptist Church of Chiefland on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations can be made to the following:

            Rotary Club of Chiefland, PO. Box 932, Chiefland, FL 32644,

            Harmony Pregnancy Center

            The Levy Association of Retarded Citizens, commonly known as the ARC of Levy County. Donations be made directly to Capital City Bank Workshop Account or the ARC of Levy County Facebook.

            Supervisor of Elections Tammy Jones was asked how Barker would be replaced as property appraiser. She said she would probably notify the governor’s office of the vacancy after she saw a published obituary.

            Jones said the governor would appoint Barker’s appointment. Barker’s successor would serve until next year at which time he or she would be required to run for election in 2022. The new property appraiser would also run in 2024 at the completion of Barker’s original term.

            The process of replacing Barker is very similar to the one for Joyner. Both men passed away early in their term of office, which is why their success must run in 2022 and 2024. The governor will appoint their successors.

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Enterprise Reporting by Terry Witt September 1, 2021; Posted September 1, 2021