Max Barry, the son of Mayor Megan Barry, died overnight of an apparent drug overdose, the mayor's office announced Sunday morning. He was 22 and the mayor's only child.
“Early this morning, we received news that no parents should ever have to hear," Barry and her husband Bruce say in a joint statement. "Our son Max suffered from an overdose and passed away. We cannot begin to describe the pain and heartbreak that comes with losing our only child. Our son was a kind soul full of life and love for his family and friends."
“Our family would greatly appreciate your thoughts and prayers, and would respectfully ask for privacy as we mourn the loss of our child and begin to understand a world without his laughter and love in our lives.”
Max Barry graduated in June from the University of Puget Sound. He attended Eakin Elementary, West End Middle School, and MLK High School before attending and graduating from University School of Nashville.
Bruce Barry is a professor at Vanderbilt's Owen School of Management and a longtime contributor to the Scene.
The mayor's office relays the family's request for privacy, but says messages of condolence can be sent to megan.barry@nashville.gov.
The mayor's office has confirmed that visitation will be held at the Martha Rivers Ingram Center for the Performing Arts at the Blair School of Music, 2400 Blakemore Ave., from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, July 31.
A memorial service honoring Max will be held at the Belcourt Theatre, 2102 Belcourt Ave., starting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 1. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m.
