Michael Eric Barber, of Buffalo, NY passed in his sleep Thursday (Nov. 28, 2023), one day shy of his 61st birthday.

Michael was born in Cuba on Nov. 29, 1962, and spent most of his life in the Allegany County area of Western New York. The son of Odis Lee Barber Sr. and Eunice Julia Barber, he was raised in Friendship.

As a youth, he was a star athlete in baseball, soccer and basketball, winning multiple awards.

After graduating Friendship Central High School in 1981, he pursued a career in the armed forces, serving in the Special Forces Division of the U.S. Army. Private First Class (PFC) Barber will have a full military salute as a part of his homegoing services.

He was a lifelong member of the Friendship Church of God in Christ (COGIC), Friendship.

He is survived by his wife, Tashara (Pierce) Barber; five stepchildren, all of Buffalo; his daughter, Jessica Ganoung Barber; and grandchildren, Ka’terra Hayes, Amir Ganoung, Jaaliyah Jackson (granddaughter deceased), Khai Ames, Kamrin Ames, Na’lah Ganoung, all of Norfolk, Va.; parents, Odis Lee Barber Sr. (deceased) and Eunice Julia Barber (deceased); siblings, Odis Lee (Carol) Barber Jr. (deceased), Nadine Barber of Friendship, Elizabeth (Brian) Barber Cowburn of Ulysses, Pa., Mark Barber of Olean, Felicia Barber of New Haven, Conn., Raymond (Bethany) Barber of Flushing, Mich. and Christopher Barber of Olean; Rev. Russell (Lorrain) Groves (deceased, Baltimore, Md.), Naomi (Oscar) Solomon (deceased, Friendship), Rev. Luci (Emmanuel) La Venture of Friendship and Joseph (Sandy) Groves of Friendship; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.

The service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 9, 2023) at Lombardo’s Funeral Home, 3060 Abbott Road, in Orchard Park, preceded by the viewing from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The service will be officiated by Supt. Gerald Slack of Sacred Temple Church of God in Christ in Olean. A repast will follow at St. Anthony R.C. Church, 306 Ingham Ave., Lackawanna.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Friendship Church of God in Christ or Mission AGAPE Food Pantry, at P.O. Box 35, 77 W. Main St., Friendship, NY 14739.