Meet the Barefoot family - part 2

Here is part two of the series of Barefoot family biographies.  Part one can be found here.

These are the next three oldest members.

JENNIFER, 30
Jennifer Jill Pope grew up in Charlotte, NC in a middle-class family.  Originally, after high school, she went to the University of North Carolina, Charlotte and wanted to be a nurse.  During that time, she gained an interest in podiatry and wanted to pursue it further.  Since UNCC did not offer a degree concentration in podiatry, she transferred to North Carolina State University, which did.  After graduation, Jennifer spent three years in Marietta, GA working for Dr. James Mimms, then moved back to Charlotte to start her own practice.

Shortly after the practice opened, she met Bobby Ray Barefoot at a NASCAR fan event at Charlotte Motor Speedway.  Within two years, this was followed by a marriage and then the birth of what turned out to be their only child, Belinda.

Like other farm moms, Jennifer's passions include cooking, sewing, washing and drying clothes, and some animal husbandry.  In her spare time, she pursues a career as a novelist; she says her perfect book would combine romance, mystery, and household tips.

Fun fact: When Jennifer got married, she became what author Paul Dickson has called an "aptronym," or someone whose name matches a profession or description.  (With everyone in the house running around shoeless all the time, the name is now appropriate twice over!)

Avatar: Brandy Barefoot (not to be confused with my character of the same name), a resident of Opp, AL


BOBBY RAY, 27
Bobby Ray Barefoot is the middle son of Brenda, and the first she had with Alfred after Brenda and Alfred married.  From age seven to about 16, Bobby Ray and his brother Buddy Wayne grew up separately, B.R. with Alfred and B.W. with Brenda.  After a short time as a transient, Bobby and B.W. were reunited and moved to Baldrige Island, a new development off the coast of Africa designed as a permanent youth development and social center.  (For more on how this happened, see B.W.'s bio.)

After some time as a driver in Racing with Attitude - a race-car series combining elements of Formula One and WWE - B.R. got homesick and returned to the U.S. to pursue opportunities in NASCAR.  After working as an engineer for a few years, he was reunited with his brother as crew chief when B.W. became a Cup driver.  Twice, the duo won NASCAR's top championship title, now called Sprint Cup.  (There was one other time that B.W. won as a driver in a season Bobby missed, due to Belinda's health problems.)

Bobby is the chief steward of the barn, feeding, grooming, and breeding hundreds of animals a day.  He prepares hogs, lambs, and cattle for slaughter and cows for milking, and makes sure that, when the animals are killed, the methods are as humane as possible.  "I really hate to see them go, but what else are we gonna do?" he has asked.

When his chores are done, he and Jennifer read stories to Belinda.  He has also learned to play the fiddle.


Avatar: Travis Sampson, cast member on Survivor: Vanuatu in 2005

RALPH, 26

Ralph Landon Barefoot is the eldest son of Alonzo ("Popeye") and Gillie Ann ("Annie").  In the previous life, he worked at Barefoot's Auto Mart, a used-car dealership owned by a distant relative and some of that relative's immediate family.  Ralph was also an ordained minister and provided counseling services on behalf of the Southern Baptist Convention.  He had hoped to someday take over a congregation, but the Rapture intervened before that occurred.

Ralph is now the family pastor, giving services three times a week, twice on Sunday and the other time on Wednesday night.  He is known for his relentless work ethic and dedication to knowing more about the Bible and his faith, as well as instilling that in the rest of the family.  Another way he shares his faith is by singing Southern gospel music as a member of the Barefoot Boys.  The other members are his father Popeye, brother Harvey, and cousin Landon Jr.

In his secular life, Ralph is the family hunter and fisherman; his skills are important in bringing extra food supplies to the house.  Ralph has taught what he knows to his brothers, his sister, and to his nephews Bobby Ray and Buddy Wayne.  He is so talented that, if he wished, he could try out to be a professional bass fisherman or an Olympic-level shooter, maybe even both!

Ralph also owns three hunting dogs - Bubba, Cooter, and Diddley.

Avatar: Brett Barefoot, coordinator of training and compliance in the financial aid department at the University of Mississippi