Who are Lem Barney's kids? Family details explored as son disputes false death announcement

Lem Barney’s son, Lem Barney III, has shut down the false reports that claimed his father had passed away at the age of 80.

His son confirmed to Detroit Free Press sportswriter Dave Birkett that the former Detroit Lions cornerback is “good and alive.” On Saturday, November 29, Birkett shared a post on X regarding his conversation with Barney III.

He wrote:

“OK. Talked to Lem Barney's son. He said Lem is alive. He said he Lem saw on Thanksgiving, started getting messages asking about his dad last night. He said he talked to Lem's nurse today, had her send a selfie, heard his voice in the background. "He's good ... He is alive.”

Reports suggested that Barney is currently facing health challenges after being diagnosed with advanced dementia. In addition to Barney III, the football icon also has a daughter named LaTrece. He shares both of them with his wife, Martha.

Continue to read for more information.

All we know about Lem Barney’s family details

Lem Barney was born in 1945 in Gulfport, Mississippi, to parents Lem and Berdell Barney. He was the second of four children, including three sisters.

He attended 33rd Avenue High School in his hometown. He then completed his majors in health and science from Jackson State University. He played college football for the Jackson State Tigers under head coach Rod Paige.

The former football player has often credited his parents for being his backbone throughout his career. In an interview with the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he called them “heroes” and said that they are the “greatest parents that the lord put on the planet.” He added that there is no single day that goesn’t go by that he doesn’t remember them in his prayers.

In the same interview, Lem Barney reflected on being a healthy eater along with his wife. He told the outlet:

“Chicken and seafood. My wife and I are from both the waters. My wife is from the Washington D.C. area near the Patomac and I’m from Gulfport, Miss. off the great gulf and sea foods like shrimps and lobsters and crabs and things of that nature and a lot of vegetables. We’re pretty healthy eaters.”

Lem Barney shared two children with his first wife, Martha, before their marriage ended in divorce. According to a report in the Detroit Free Press, Lem Barney’s sister from Mississippi testified in the Oakland County Probate Court, alleging that Martha has displayed hostile behavior against her brother to the point that she physically abused him during his stay in her Houston home in 2021.

The testimony came amidst the hearing where family members of Barney pushed to relocate him from a Houston nursing facility back to Martha’s residence.

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Barney reportedly married for the second time by tying the knot with Jacqueline Barney. In 2018, they filed a lawsuit against Happy’s Pizza, accusing the company of racial discrimination.

A report from The Detroit News confirmed that Lem Barney was diagnosed with advanced stages of dementia due to multiple concussions he suffered during his professional football career. As a result, he is reportedly in a long-term care facility in Houston under round-the-clock care due to the severity of his ailment.

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