02/20/2026
Peter Hickman Barrett
Peter Hickman Barrett, 78, of Gulfport, Mississippi, who practiced law on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for over 50 years, passed away at his home on Friday, February 20, 2026. Peter was born on June 9, 1947, to his parents, William Earl “Bill” Barrett, Sr. and Esther Scott Barrett, he graduated from Gulfport High School in 1964 and attended the University of Mississippi for both his Bachelor of Public Administration and Juris Doctorate degrees. At Ole Miss, he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
Prior to earning his law degree, he crewed merchant ships on cargo routes in the Atlantic and Pacific. Peter was admitted to practice law in both Mississippi and Louisiana. He began his legal career in the Office of District Counsel of the Veterans Administration in 1971 and from 1983 through 2004 spent more than 20 years as an Assistant U. S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. In that capacity, he was passionate about his role as a federal prosecutor. He was the lead attorney or a trial team member that was successful in many high-profile prosecutions, some of which gained national attention. Over his career, Peter tried a number of “firsts” in federal criminal cases in Mississippi, including the first federal death penalty prosecution, the first federal wiretap case, and the first federal possession of child po*******hy prosecution. He famously avoided the spotlight in the newsworthy cases. Peter was an ardent prosecutor, but he derived more satisfaction from working with his fellow prosecutors and law enforcement officers whom he considered friends. He received awards and recognition from many of the federal agencies that required his attention and representation. After retiring from the federal government, Peter continued his legal career by joining the law firm of Butler Snow for several years and later opened his own law practice with his son and daughter specializing in the field of criminal defense. After more than half a century, Peter finally retired from the practice of law in 2022.
Peter loved being on the water and sailed competitively with his brothers for many years. Above all, Peter preferred time spent with his family, including cooking, hunting as a member of the BBG Sportsman’s Club, fishing and canoeing in the Minnesota boundary waters. He regularly entertained family, friends and colleagues, telling his stories and tall tales, both fact and fiction.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Esther and Bill, and his brother, William Earl “Billy” Barrett, Jr.
He is survived by wife Fay Nobles Barrett; brother Ashton Scott Barrett (Celia), Gulfport, MS; sister Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Barrett, Jackson, MS; son William Carl “Bill” Barrett (Savannah), Ocean Springs, MS; daughter Susan Barrett Creegan (John), Sealy, TX, and granddaughters Frances “Franny”, Margaret “Maggie”, and Elizabeth “Betty” Creegan; niece Amy Barrett Caboni (Devin), New Orleans, LA, and grandnephews Scott and Will Caboni.
A funeral service will be held at Burton Memorial United Methodist Church, 2419 22nd Avenue in Gulfport, on Monday, February 23, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Visitation will be held immediately following the funeral service. In lieu of flower, donations in Peter’s name may be made to Burton Memorial United Methodist Church.
Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport is honored to serve the family of Peter Hickman Barrett.
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