User:Bdvassar/sandbox/Barry D. Vassar

INTRODUCTION

Barry Vassar is locally known as the Cumberland County Christmas Mother in Cumberland, Va.,[1][2][3] but he has a longer history than what is written about him and is more active in the community than many realize.

EARLY LIFE

Born in October of 1970, Barry was pronounced dead at birth and then found to be alive in a hallway of the hospital.[4] His second brush with death occurred in June of 2004 when he died while undergoing surgery and was resuscitated. [5] Being an only child and “miracle baby”, he grew up with a sense of determination and perseverance to always overcome.

CAREER

Barry entered into the ministry at the age of 20, starting out as a volunteer working with youth and children. Between 1990 and 2002, Barry served as Minister to Youth & Children at Patterson Avenue Baptist Church, Lead Evangelist for Virginia Community Revival, Christian life & Witness Instructor for the Billy graham Association and was interim principal for a private school in Louisa, Va. Barry was recognized and featured in articles found in the Richmond Times Dispatch, Christianity Today, and Henrico County Plus.[6]

After his first marriage failed in 2002, Barry was asked to resign from all ministry positions. Within a short while Barry was employed in Federal Law Enforcement where over the course of 7 years he grew to the rank of Sergeant while also serving as a DCJS General instructor, Field Training Officer, and Shift Training Coordinator.

Barry completed degrees in counseling and psychology and transitioned to professional counseling in 2008. Over the course of 5 years Barry worked as a Program Director, Outpatient Counselor, Crisis Intervention Counselor and Assessment & Diagnostic Coordinator.

After relocating to Cumberland County, Barry moved to the department of social services and held multiple titles over the course of the following three years.

PERSONAL LIFE

Barry was married to Darcy Vassar from October of 1995 until their divorce in February of 2003. The marriage produced one child (Brad Vassar). Barry was married a second time in 2013 to Jeanine Petrigiliano of New York and they have one daughter.

LINEAGE Great Great Grandfather, Hugh Wiley Vassar (6/6/1825-1/3/1895); Great Grandfather, John Alfred “Jack” Vassar (7/2/1855-10/28/1929); Grandfather, John Leland Vassar (2/26/1885-11/3/1956); Father, Barry Don Vassar (11/28/34-).[7][8][9]

REFERENCES

1 http://www.richmond.com/christmas-mother/archive/article_38c80e1d-d1b3-5360-8852-7cea0ff0a5a9.html?mode=image&photo=0 2 http://www.richmond.com/news/local/article_38c80e1d-d1b3-5360-8852-7cea0ff0a5a9.html 3 http://www.farmvilleherald.com/2015/11/christmas-mother-prepares-for-the-holidays/ 4. Richmond Times Dispatch, November 1, 1970 5. Henrico Doctors Hospital, Forest Avenue, Henrico, Va. 6. Richmond Times Dispatch, December 1997. 7. http://www.geni.com/people/John-Alfred-Vasser-b-2-July-1855-in-Halifax-County-d-28-Oct-1929-in-Charlotte-County-m-20-Sept-1877/6000000001201880327 8. http://www.angelfire.com/va/eriehome/jav.html 9. http://www.angelfire.com/va/eriehome/vassur.html