Retired pastor, never one to sit passively by, vows to fight Alzheimer’s
He throws party in reaction to diagnosis
Robert “Dulaney” Barrett has always put his faith in prayer and God.
But he has never been one to sit passively by, waiting for those prayers to be answered. He’s a man of action. That hasn’t changed, even as he enters his ninth decade of life.
Less than a month ago, doctors diagnosed Barrett, 81, with the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. He said his wife noticed that he was starting to forget little things and became concerned. The retired minister said his initial reaction was sadness, fear and an urge to run away. That didn’t last very long.
“I’ve never been one to roll over and play dead,” he said. “But I’m a practical preacher, and I wanted to get to work.”
He said he and his wife got to thinking about what they could do and decided to throw a party that would also serve as a reunion, allowing Barrett to see his family and friends before he deteriorated.
“I want to see them before it’s too late, before I forget,” he said. “I also wanted to heighten awareness of (Alzheimer’s) and call attention to the need to find a cure. We need to kick its butt.”
Barrett got on the phone and started calling his family and friends around the country to give them the not-so-happy news and invite them to his last sermon. Barrett became a Methodist minister in 1954 and retired in 2000 but said it was time to briefly come out of retirement. The couple then went to the bank and borrowed money to feed everyone.
More than 100 people were expected to attend the party that took place Saturday at the Nativo Lodge in Albuquerque. Barrett said Thursday that he was asking his friends and family to give money that will be donated to Alzheimer’s research.
One of the attendees is Clyde Chesnutt, who lives in Prescott, Ariz. Chesnutt said the two met in Southwest Texas where they were both pastors “about 30 or 40 years ago.”
When he got the call, he said there was never a question of not attending. He called Barrett a good friend. The two get together a few times a year when Chesnutt travels to Albuquerque to visit his two children. He said he was not surprised that Barrett was throwing himself a party and trying to beat the disease.
“He has strong opinions and is willing to voice his opinion about theology, politics and really anything,” he said. “He’s a very good preacher and will be a strong advocate for this issue.”
Barrett served as a pastor for the United Methodist Church in New Mexico. He said he served on its board and during his tenure raised funds to add an Alzheimer’s wing at the denomination’s retirement home in Carlsbad. Barrett said he saw many of his own family members suffer from the disease. Some of the money raised will be diverted to help complete another Alzheimer’s wing at a retirement center in Carlsbad, he said.
“This disease is a thief and murderer of memories,” he said. “I want to fight it.”