Barbara Lucille Sykes

Barbara Lucille Sykes, age 74, of Tennessee Ridge, TN, passed away Sunday, October 18, 2026.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, October 23, 2026 at the Chapel of Nave Funeral Home with Rev. Beverly Dycus officiating. Family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until the hour of service Friday afternoon at the funeral home.

Barbara was born at home during one of the hottest summers on record on July 1, 1952, in Erin, TN, to Vernon and Louise Sine Brooks. In her lifetime Barbara was employed as a teaching assistant at Tennessee Ridge Elementary School and Highland Rim Head Start. Additionally, she spent over 15 years as an administrative professional at the Clarksville Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Her most passionate profession, however, was being a mother and grandmother to her daughter and granddaughter.

Barbara was a prolific reader and enjoyed writing short stories about her life, family, and humorous experiences.

In addition to her parents, Barbara was preceded in death by brothers James Vernon (Jimmy) and Lloyd Brooks and nieces Teresa Brooks and Crystal Blackwell Hooper.

Survivors include her loving husband of 56 years, Dickie Sykes, daughter, Brooke Sykes Villarreal, granddaughter Annie Villarreal, sister Carol Blackwell, and brother Larry Brooks.

A lifelong Democrat, Barbara was an advocate for equality and justice and used her final days to exercise her right to vote. In lieu of flowers, she requested that everyone vote to support their Democratic candidates in her honor.

Arrangements are in the care of Nave Funeral Home, (931) 289-4277, 4639 West Main St, Erin, TN, 37061, NaveFuneralHomes.com.