Remembering Barry Sheets
Barry Sheets, a longtime lobbyist, friend, and team member of Center for Christian Virtue, went home to the Lord on July 2 after a lengthy battle with cancer. In nearly three decades of working with CCV, Barry had a tremendous impact on the organization’s legislative efforts and served as a lasting model of how to faithfully represent Jesus Christ while engaging with ideological opponents.
By the time he began partnering with CCV on several pieces of legislation in the early 1990s, Barry was highly regarded throughout the state for his pro-family and pro-life work. Shortly after those initial collaborations, former CCV President Phil Burress recognized the respect and influence that Barry garnered and hired him to join the CCV staff.
CCV was based in Cincinnati at the time, but Barry was instrumental in establishing a permanent presence for the organization in Columbus. As Director of Governmental Affairs, he guided CCV’s priorities and policies at the Ohio Statehouse and lead CCV’s Columbus office.
“Ohio is a better and safer place for families and the unborn because of the steadfast advocacy of Barry Sheets,” said Aaron Baer, President of Center for Christian Virtue. “For more than 25 years, Barry stood on the front lines of the most important and difficult cultural battles, and he never wavered nor walked away from a fight when life and liberty were at stake. It was an incredible honor to work side by side with Barry and benefit from his friendship, humor, wisdom, and courage.”
Barry worked on numerous pieces of legislation and other initiatives during his career with CCV, including:
The Heartbeat Bill to prohibit abortion once a heartbeat is detected in an unborn child.
The Community Defense Act to regulate sexually-oriented businesses in Ohio
The ballot initiative—which passed with more than 61 percent of the vote—to define marriage in the Ohio Constitution only as the union of one man and one woman
Elevating the charge for pandering obscenity in Ohio to a felony
A national campaign to remove pornography from hotel televisions
Organizing meetings of the Ohio Pro-Family Forum
Working with outdoor advertising agencies to remove sexual content from billboards nationwide
Barry launched his own public policy lobbying and political consulting firm, aptly named Principled Policy Consulting, and continued to serve CCV while helping direct the legislative efforts for a number of pro-life and pro-family organizations, including Greater Toledo Right to Life, Cleveland Right to Life, Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati, Dayton Right to Life, the Right to Life Action Coalition of Ohio, the Ohio Adolescent Health Association, and Health Freedom Ohio.
“Barry accomplished so much in his time working with CCV that it’s hard to summarize,” Phil Burress said. “He had a brilliant mind and was respected by all of the lawmakers he worked with. He was honest and wasn’t afraid to disagree with anyone, but he was never disrespectful. Barry was a great advisor and employee, but he was also a friend.”
Barry, who received his bachelor’s degree in political science from The Ohio State University, taught civic groups and churches about the history and operation of the United States Constitution through his efforts as an instructor with the Institute on the Constitution. He also served as a ruling elder at Pliny Presbyterian Church (PCA).
Please join Center for Christian Virtue in praying for Barry’s wife, Ellen, and their children Webster, Rutherford, and Grace, and celebrating his amazing life and legacy through his dedication to enacting pro-life and pro-family policies in Ohio.
A memorial service for Barry will be held on Saturday, July 8, at 5:00 pm. at Good News Baptist Church, 4045 Georges Creek Road, Gallipolis, OH 45631. There will not be calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial contribution to The RIDGE Project, a Christian non-profit organization in Ohio that works to help individuals become leaders in their homes, communities, and workplaces. Through their TYRO programs, The RIDGE provides character, resiliency, and leadership education to youth, transformational relationship education for couples and parents, and family-centered transitional services to people in prison.
Over two decades ago, the RIDGE Project Co-founders Ron and Catherine Tijerina forged a deep relationship with the Sheets family based on their shared values and their commitment to serving Ohio. On behalf of RIDGE, Barry championed legislation designating April to be “Forgotten Victims of Crime Awareness Month,” a month set aside to recognize the hardships endured by the children of incarcerated parents. Donations can be made online at https://tinyurl.com/RidgeProjectDonate.
