Barry Wilde

Barry Wilde of Chattanooga passed away Monday, April 3, 2023. A native of Newport, Tennessee, he was the son of the late Wendell and Bettye Wilde. Barry was a proud and loving father to his two beautiful daughters.

Barry was a skilled musician who played weekly with local groups in the Chattanooga music scene. He also played with many well-known musicians including Con Hunley, Ray Charles, Loretta Lynn, Paul Davis and many others. He was featured, along with the Hagar Twins, on the popular TV show Hee Haw. Barry’s talents were not limited to the world of music. He created beautiful fine art photography and even owned a commercial photography business. Barry was a true jack of all trades.

Along with his accomplishments in the arts, Barry was a successful commercial Real Estate Broker in the Chattanooga and North Georgia area. He was an influential advocate for many nonprofit organizations which include the Urban Century Institute, The Pop Up Project and many others.

Barry was a friend and mentor to so many, and a stranger to no one. He was a member of the Elks Lodge #91. He will be greatly missed by his Lodge family and his Stone Cup Family. For more than 20 years, Barry started every morning with coffee at Stone Cup Café. Along with having deep roots in the Chattanooga community, Barry maintained a strong connection to his hometown in Newport, Tennessee.  He loved hard and lived life to the fullest. Barry loved his many guitars, his fast cars, guns, and a good pair of cowboy boots.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Blake Wilde.

Survivors include his daughters: Leica Wilde, of Decatur, GA and Adia Wilde, of Chattanooga; his loving partner, Monica Adkins, of Chattanooga formerly of Burnsville, NC; the mother of his daughters and friend, Janelle Wilde, of Chattanooga; his devoted “Cat Devil” companion, Lavender; countless friends and family also survive.

There will be a Celebration of Life Saturday, April 15, 2023, at 3:00 pm at Wanderlinger: 1208 King Street, Chattanooga, TN 37403.

This obituary is a courtesy to the Wilde family. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Barry Wilde, please visit our floral store.