Teacher Dies Following Cycle Wreck

The Fredericksburg School Board paid homage to one of their colleagues yesterday with a moment of silence during the school board meeting to honor the memory of 8th grade teacher Mark Bareford. 

'I can't say enough good things about him, he's absolutely amazing," said Walker Grant Assistant Principal Melanie Kay-Wyatt. "He just loved what he did."

Bareford died on Saturday, July 30 at VCU Medical Center in Richmond, Va., after sustaining injuries in a single vehicle motorcycle accident in Central Park, according to school officials. 

Bareford, age 47, was a Fredericksburg resident. He taught science at Walker Grant Middle School. 

According to his obituary, Bareford was a survivor of the USS Stark incident in 1987 which claimed the lives of 37 sailors. He suffered second degree burns over 35 percent of his body, and earned a purple heart in the process. 

His obituary also notes that he was a deeply faithful man who was involved in activities at Fairview Baptist Church and The Lords Church in Fredericksburg, Va. 

Bareford is survived by his wife Kitty Bareford, his daughter Ali and his son Joshua. He is also survived by three brothers and one sister.

Friends will be able to bid farewell to Mark on Tuesday, Aug. 2 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Covenant Funeral Service in Fredericksburg. A funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug 3. in the Covenant Funeral Home chapel. Bareford will be interred at Quantico National Cemetery.